Abstract:

A major object of this invention is to provide a remote diagnosis
apparatus, a remote diagnosis system, a user terminal, a program, a
diagnosis program, and a storage for easily diagnosing a pigmentary
deposition portion. A user of the system picks up the skin having benign
nevus pigmentosus that might be melanoma through a dermoscope using a
portable telephone with a camera to which the dermoscope is attached by
means of an adapter, accesses to the Internet using an Internet
connection function of the portable telephone, and sends the picked up
skin image to the remote diagnosis apparatus. After receiving the skin
image, the remote diagnosis apparatus uses the melanoma diagnosis program
to examine the skin image for melanoma and a disease stage of melanoma if
there is melanoma and then sends a result to the user.

Claims:

1. A remote diagnosis apparatus for diagnosing a skin lesion, which is
communicably connected to a first user terminal and a second user
terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope, comprising:a
database for storing data which are received from the first user terminal
and relate to the skin lesion, anda diagnosis program updated based on
the data stored in the database and diagnosing skin images for the skin
lesion,the remote diagnosis apparatus receiving a skin image of a
pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope from the second user terminal; diagnosing the received skin
image for the skin lesion with the use of the diagnosis program; and
sending a diagnosis result to a predetermined destination.

2. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a first user
terminal and a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprising:a database for storing data which are received
from the first user terminal and relate to a skin lesion;a diagnosis
program which is updated based on the data stored in the database and
diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion; andan image storage for
storing the skin images to be diagnosed,the remote diagnosis
apparatusreceiving a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked
up by the camera device with dermoscope and source information for
identifying the pigmentary deposition portion from the second user
terminal andstoring the received skin image in the image storage after
associating the source information with the skin image, andthe diagnosis
program taking out the skin image stored in the image storage to diagnose
the skin image for the skin lesion and sending a diagnosis result to a
destination designated by the source information.

3. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a first user
terminal and a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprising:a data receiving unit for receiving data relating
to a skin lesion from the first user terminal;a database for storing data
relating to the skin lesion, which stores the received data;a receiving
unit for receiving a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked
up by the camera device with dermoscope and source information for
identifying the pigmentary deposition portion from the second user
terminal;an image storage for storing the received skin image after
associating the source information with the skin image;a diagnosis
program which is updated based on the data stored in the database and
takes out the skin image stored in the image storage to diagnose the skin
image for the skin lesion; anda sending unit for sending a diagnosis
result of the diagnosis program to a destination designated by the source
information.

4. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a first user
terminal and a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprising:a database for storing data which are received
from the first user terminal and relate to a skin lesion;a first
diagnosis program which is updated based on the data stored in the
database and diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion; anda second
diagnosis program for diagnosing based on a comparison of plural
diagnosis results for the skin lesion,the remote diagnosis
apparatusreceiving a first skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion
picked up by the camera device with dermoscope from the second user
terminal to diagnose the first skin image for the skin lesion with the
use of the first diagnosis program,storing a diagnosis result for the
first skin image,receiving a second skin image of the pigmentary
deposition portion same as the first skin image picked up by the camera
device with dermoscope at a different time point from the second user
terminal and diagnosing the second skin image for the skin lesion with
the use of the first diagnosis program,diagnosing the skin lesion by
comparing the diagnosis result for the first skin image with a diagnosis
result for the second skin image with the use of the second diagnosis
program, andsending at least one of the diagnosis results of the first
diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program to a predetermined
destination.

5. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a first user
terminal and a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprising:a database for storing data which are received
from the first user terminal and relate to a skin lesion;a first
diagnosis program which is updated based on the data stored in the
database and diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion;a second diagnosis
program for diagnosing based on a comparison of plural diagnosis results
for the skin lesion;an image storage for storing the skin images to be
diagnosed; anda diagnosis result storage for storing a diagnosis
result,the remote diagnosis apparatusreceiving a first skin image of a
pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition
portion, and first time information relating to a time of sending the
first skin image from the second user terminal,storing the first skin
image in the image storage after associating the source information and
the first time information with the first skin image,taking out the first
skin image stored in the image storage to diagnose the first skin image
for the skin lesion with the use of the first diagnosis program,storing a
diagnosis result for the first skin image in the diagnosis result storage
after associating the source information and the first time information
with the diagnosis result,receiving a second skin image of the pigmentary
deposition portion same as the first skin image picked up by the camera
device with dermoscope at a different time point, source information for
identifying the pigmentary deposition portion, and second time
information relating to a time of sending the second skin image from the
second user terminal,storing the second skin image in the image storage
after associating the source information and the second time information
with the second skin image,taking out the second skin image stored in the
image storage to diagnose the second skin image for the skin lesion with
the use of the first diagnosis program,comparing the diagnosis result for
the first skin image with a diagnosis result for the second skin image
with the use of the second diagnosis program to diagnose further for the
skin lesion, andsending at least one of the diagnosis results of the
first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program to a destination
designated by the source information.

6. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a first user
terminal and a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprising:a database for storing data relating to a skin
lesion;a data receiving unit for receiving data relating to the skin
lesion from the first user terminal;a database for storing data relating
to the skin lesion, which stores the received data;a receiving unit for
receiving a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by
the camera device with dermoscope, source information for identifying the
pigmentary deposition portion, and time information relating to a time of
sending the skin image from the second user terminal;an image storage for
storing the received skin image after associating the source information
and the time information with the skin image;a first diagnosis program
which is updated based on the data stored in the database and takes out
the skin image stored in the image storage to diagnose the skin image for
the skin lesion;a diagnosis result storage for storing a diagnosis result
after associating the source information and the time information with
the diagnosis result;a second diagnosis program capable of diagnosing the
skin lesion based on plural diagnosis results having different time
information; anda sending unit for sending at least one of diagnosis
results of the first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program
to a destination designated by the source information.

7. The remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in
that the second user terminal is provided with a portable telephone
function.

8. The remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in
that the second user terminal communicates via the Internet.

9. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected toa database
control server provided with a database for storing data relating to a
skin lesion anda user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprisinga diagnosis program which is updated based on the
data stored in the database and diagnoses skin images for the skin
lesion,the remote diagnosis apparatusreceiving a skin image of a
pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope from the user terminal,diagnosing the received skin image for
the skin lesion with the use of the diagnosis program, andsending a
diagnosis result to a predetermined destination.

10. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected toa database
control server provided with a database for storing data relating to a
skin lesion anda user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprisinga diagnosis program which is updated based on the
data stored in the database and diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion
andan image storage for storing the skin images to be diagnosed,the
remote diagnosis apparatusreceiving a skin image of a pigmentary
deposition portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope and
source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion from
the user terminal,storing the received skin image in the image storage
after associating the source information with the skin image,diagnosing
the skin image stored in the image storage for the skin lesion with the
use of the diagnosis program, andsending a diagnosis result to a
destination designated by the source information.

11. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected toa database
control server provided with a database for storing data relating to a
skin lesion anda user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprising:a receiving unit for receiving a skin image of a
pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope and source information for identifying the pigmentary
deposition portion from the user terminal;an image storage for storing
the received skin image after associating the source information with the
skin image;a diagnosis program which is updated based on the data stored
in the database and takes out the skin image stored in the image storage
to diagnose the skin image for the skin lesion; anda sending unit for
sending a diagnosis result of the diagnosis program to a destination
designated by the source information.

12. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected toa database
control server provided with a database for storing data relating to a
skin lesion anda user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprisinga first diagnosis program which is updated based on
the data stored in the database and diagnoses skin images for the skin
lesion anda second diagnosis program for diagnosing based on plural
diagnosis results for the skin lesion,the remote diagnosis
apparatusreceiving a first skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion
picked up by the camera device with dermoscope from the user
terminal,diagnosing the first skin image for the skin lesion with the use
of the first diagnosis program,storing a diagnosis result for the first
skin image,receiving a second skin image of the pigmentary deposition
portion same as the first skin image picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope at a different time point from the user terminal,diagnosing
the second skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the first
diagnosis program,comparing the diagnosis result for the first skin image
with a diagnosis result for the second skin image with the use of the
second diagnosis program, andsending at least one of the diagnosis
results of the first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program
to a destination designated by the source information.

13. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected toa database
control server provided with a database for storing data relating to a
skin lesion anda user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprising:a first diagnosis program which is updated based
on the data stored in the database and diagnoses skin images for the skin
lesion;a second diagnosis program for diagnosing based on plural
diagnosis results for the skin lesion;an image storage for storing the
skin images to be diagnosed; anda diagnosis result storage for storing a
diagnosis result,the remote diagnosis apparatusreceiving a first skin
image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device
with dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary
deposition portion, and first time information relating to a time of
sending the first skin image from the user terminal,storing the first
skin image in the image storage after associating the source information
and the first time information with the first skin image,taking out the
first skin image stored in the image storage to diagnose the first skin
image for the skin lesion with the use of the first diagnosis
program,storing a diagnosis result for the first skin image in the
diagnosis result storage after associating the source information and the
first time information with the diagnosis result,receiving a second skin
image of the pigmentary deposition portion same as the first skin image
picked up by the camera device with dermoscope at a different time point,
source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion, and
second time information relating to a time of sending the second skin
image from the user terminal,storing the second skin image in the
diagnosis result storage after associating the source information with
the second skin image,taking out the stored second skin image to diagnose
the second skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the first
diagnosis program,diagnosing through a comparison between the diagnosis
result for the first skin image and a diagnosis result for the second
skin image with the use of the second diagnosis program, andsending at
least one of the diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the
second diagnosis program to a destination designated by the source
information.

14. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected toa database
control server provided with a database for storing data relating to a
skin lesion anda user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprising:a receiving unit for receiving a skin image of a
pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition
portion, and time information relating to a time of sending the skin
image from the user terminal;an image storage for storing the received
skin image after associating the source information and the time
information with the skin image;a first diagnosis program which is
updated based on the data stored in the database and takes out the skin
image stored in the image storage to diagnose the skin image for a skin
lesion;a diagnosis result storage for storing a diagnosis result for the
skin image after associating the source information and the time
information with the diagnosis result;a second diagnosis program capable
of diagnosing the skin lesion based on plural diagnosis results for the
skin lesion of the skin image, which are stored in the diagnosis result
storage and different in time information; anda sending unit for sending
at least one of diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the
second diagnosis program to a destination designated by the source
information.

15. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a user terminal
provided with a camera device with dermoscope, comprisingreceiving a skin
image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device
with dermoscope;diagnosing the received skin image for the skin lesion;
andsending a diagnosis result to a predetermined destination.

16. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a user terminal
provided with a camera device with dermoscope, comprising:a diagnosis
program for diagnosing skin images for the skin lesion and an image
storage for storing the skin images to be diagnosed;the remote diagnosis
apparatus receiving a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion
picked up by the camera device with dermoscope and source information for
identifying the pigmentary deposition portion,storing the received skin
image in the image storage after associating the source information with
the skin image,taking out the skin image stored in the image storage and
diagnosing the skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the
diagnosis program, andsending a diagnosis result to a destination
designated by the source information.

17. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a user terminal
provided with a camera device with dermoscope, comprising:a receiving
unit for receiving a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked
up by the camera device with dermoscope and source information for
identifying the pigmentary deposition portion;an image storage for
storing the received skin image after associating the source information
with the skin image;a diagnosis program for taking out the skin image
stored in the image storage to diagnose the skin image for the skin
lesion; anda sending unit for sending a diagnosis result of the diagnosis
program to a destination designated by the source information.

18. The remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in
that the user terminal is provided with a portable telephone function.

19. The remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in
that the user terminal communicates via the Internet.

20. The remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in
that the dermoscope comprises a polarizing filter.

21. The remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in
that the skin lesion of a diagnosis object is melanoma.

22. A remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising:a
first user terminal;a second user terminal provided with a camera device
with dermoscope;a remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to
the first user terminal and the second user terminal and comprises a
database for storing data which are received from the first user terminal
and relate to the skin lesion; and a diagnosis program relating to the
skin lesion which is updated based on the data stored in the database,
whereinthe second user terminal sends a skin image of a pigmentary
deposition portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope to the
remote diagnosis apparatus, andthe remote diagnosis apparatusreceives the
skin image,diagnoses the received skin image for the skin lesion with the
use of the diagnosis program, andsends a diagnosis result to a
predetermined destination.

23. A remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising:a
first user terminal;a second user terminal provided with a camera device
with dermoscope; anda remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected
to the first and the second user terminals, whereinthe first user
terminal comprises a sending unit for sending data relating to the skin
lesion to the remote diagnosis apparatus,the second user terminal
comprises a sending unit for sending a skin image of a pigmentary
deposition portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope to the
remote diagnosis apparatus, andthe remote diagnosis apparatus comprisesa
data receiving unit for receiving the data from the first user terminal,a
database for storing the data which are received from the first user
terminal and relate to the skin lesion,an image receiving unit for
receiving the skin image from the second user terminal,a diagnosis
program which is updated based on the data stored in the database and
diagnoses the skin image received from the second user terminal for the
skin lesion, anda sending unit for sending a diagnosis result to a
predetermined destination.

24. A remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising:a
first user terminal;a database control server communicably connected to
the first user terminal and provided with a database for storing data
which are received from the first user terminal and relate to the skin
lesion;a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope; anda remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to the
database control server and the second user terminal and provided with a
diagnosis program which is updated based on the data stored in the
database and diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion, whereinthe second
user terminal sends a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion
picked up by the camera device with dermoscope; andthe remote diagnosis
apparatusdiagnoses the skin image received from the second user terminal
for the skin lesion with the use of the diagnosis program andsends a
diagnosis result to a predetermined destination.

25. A remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising:a
first user terminal;a database control server communicably connected to
the first user terminal;a second user terminal provided with a camera
device with dermoscope; anda remote diagnosis apparatus communicably
connected to the database control server and the second user terminal,
whereinthe first user terminal comprises a sending unit for sending data
relating to the skin lesion to the remote diagnosis apparatus,the
database control server comprisesa data receiving unit for receiving the
data from the first user terminal anda database for storing the data
which are received from the first user terminal and relate to the skin
lesion;the second user terminal comprises a sending unit for sending a
skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera
device with dermoscope to the remote diagnosis apparatus, andthe remote
diagnosis apparatus comprisesa receiving unit for receiving the skin
image from the second user terminal;a diagnosis program which is updated
based on the data stored in the database and diagnoses the skin image
received from the second user terminal for the skin lesion; anda sending
unit for sending a diagnosis result to a predetermined destination.

26. A remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising:a
first user terminal;a second user terminal provided with a camera device
with dermoscope; anda remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected
to the first and the second user terminals and comprises a database for
storing data which are received from the first user terminal and relate
to the skin lesion, a first diagnosis program which is updated based on
the data stored in the database and diagnoses skin images for the skin
lesion, and a second diagnosis program for diagnosing based on plural
diagnosis results for the skin lesion, whereinthe second user terminal
sends a first skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by
the camera device with dermoscope to the remote diagnosis apparatus;the
remote diagnosis apparatusreceives the first skin image anddiagnoses the
received skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the first
diagnosis program;the second user terminal sends a second skin image of
the pigmentary deposition portion same as the first skin image picked up
by the camera device with dermoscope at a different time point to the
remote diagnosis apparatus;the remote diagnosis apparatusreceives the
second skin image anddiagnoses the received second skin image for the
skin lesion with the use of the first diagnosis program;the remote
diagnosis apparatusdiagnoses the skin lesion by comparing the diagnosis
result for the first skin image with a diagnosis result for the second
skin image with the use of the second diagnosis program andsends at least
one of the diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the
second diagnosis program to a predetermined destination.

27. A remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising:a
first user terminal;a second user terminal provided with a camera device
with dermoscope; anda remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected
to the first and the second user terminals, whereinthe first user
terminal comprisesa sending unit for sending data relating to the skin
lesion to the remote diagnosis apparatus;the second user terminal
comprises a sending unit for sending a skin image of a pigmentary
deposition portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope, source
information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion, and time
information relating to a time of sending the skin image to the remote
diagnosis apparatus; andthe remote diagnosis apparatus comprisesa data
receiving unit for receiving the data from the first user terminal;a
database for storing the data which are received from the first user
terminal and relate to the skin lesion;an image receiving unit for
receiving the skin image, the source information, and the time
information from the second user terminal;an image storage for storing
the received skin image after associating the source information and the
time information with the skin image;a first diagnosis program which is
updated based on the data stored in the database and diagnoses the skin
image taken out from the storage for the skin lesion;a second diagnosis
program capable of diagnosing the skin lesion based on plural diagnosis
results for the skin lesion of the skin image, which are stored in the
diagnosis result storage and different in time information; anda sending
unit for sending at least one of diagnosis results of the first diagnosis
program and the second diagnosis program to a predetermined destination.

28. A remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising:a
first user terminal;a database control server communicably connected to
the first user terminal and provided with a database for storing data
which are received from the first user terminal and relate to the skin
lesion;a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope; anda remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to the
second user terminal and comprising a first diagnosis program which is
updated based on the data stored in the database and diagnoses skin
images for the skin lesion, and a second diagnosis program for diagnosing
the skin lesion based on a comparison of plural diagnosis results,
whereinthe second user terminal sends a first skin image of a pigmentary
deposition portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope to the
remote diagnosis apparatus;the remote diagnosis apparatusreceives the
first skin image anddiagnoses the received first skin image for the skin
lesion with the use of the first diagnosis program;the second user
terminal sends a second skin image of the pigmentary deposition portion
same as the first skin image picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope to the remote diagnosis apparatus;the remote diagnosis
apparatusreceives the second skin image,diagnoses the received second
skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the first diagnosis
program,diagnoses the skin lesion based on a comparison between the
diagnosis result for the first skin image and a diagnosis result for the
second skin image with the use of the second diagnosis program, andsends
at least one of the diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and
the second diagnosis program to the second user terminal.

29. A remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising:a
first user terminal;a database control server communicably connected to
the first user terminal;a second user terminal provided with a camera
device with dermoscope; anda remote diagnosis apparatus communicably
connected to the database control server and the second user terminal,
whereinthe first user terminal comprises a sending unit for sending data
relating to the skin lesion to the remote diagnosis apparatus;the
database control server comprisesa data receiving unit for receiving the
data from the first user terminal anda database for storing the data
received from the first user terminal;the second user terminal comprises
a sending unit for sending a skin image of a pigmentary deposition
portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope, source
information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion, and time
information relating to a time of sending the skin image to the remote
diagnosis apparatus; andthe remote diagnosis apparatus comprisesan image
receiving unit for receiving the skin image, the source information, and
the time information from the second user terminal;an image storage for
storing the skin image after associating the source information and the
time information with the skin image;a first diagnosis program which is
updated based on the data stored in the database and diagnoses the
received skin image for the skin lesion;a second diagnosis program
capable of diagnosing based on plural diagnosis results for the skin
lesion;a diagnosis result storage for storing the diagnosis results; anda
sending unit for sending the diagnosis result to a predetermined
destination.

30. The system according to claim 22, characterized in that the second
user terminal is provided with a portable telephone function.

31. The system according to claim 22, characterized in that the second
user terminal communicates via the Internet.

32. A remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising:a
user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope anda remote
diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to the user terminal,
whereinthe user terminal sends a skin image of a pigmentary deposition
portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope and source
information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion to the
remote diagnosis apparatus, andthe remote diagnosis apparatus diagnoses
the skin image received from the user terminal for the skin lesion to
send a diagnosis result to a destination designated by the source
information.

33. A remote medical diagnosis system for diagnosing presence/absence and
a disease state of a skin lesion, comprising:a user terminal provided
with a camera device with dermoscope anda remote diagnosis apparatus
communicably connected to the user terminal, whereinthe user terminal
comprises a sending unit for sending a skin image of a pigmentary
deposition portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope to the
remote diagnosis apparatus, andthe remote diagnosis apparatus comprisesa
receiving unit for receiving the skin image of the pigmentary deposition
portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope and source
information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion;an image
storage for storing the received skin image after associating the source
information with the skin image;a diagnosis program taking out the skin
image from the image storage to diagnose the skin image for the skin
lesion; anda sending unit for sending a diagnosis result obtained by the
diagnosis to a destination designated by the source information.

34. A remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising:a
user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope;a remote
diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to the user terminal;a first
diagnosis program diagnosing skin images for the skin lesion;and a second
diagnosis program for diagnosing based on plural diagnosis results for
the skin lesion, whereinthe user terminal sends a first skin image of a
pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope to the remote diagnosis apparatus;the remote diagnosis
apparatusreceives the first skin image anddiagnoses the received first
skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the first diagnosis
program, andthe user terminal sends a second skin image of the pigmentary
deposition portion same as the first skin image picked up by the camera
device with dermoscope to the remote diagnosis apparatus, andthe remote
diagnosis apparatusreceives the second skin image,diagnoses the second
skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the first diagnosis
program,diagnoses the skin lesion based on a comparison between the
diagnosis result for the first skin image and a diagnosis result for the
second skin image with the use of the second diagnosis program, andsends
at least one of the diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and
the second diagnosis program to a destination designated by the source
information.

35. A remote medical diagnosis system for diagnosing presence/absence and
a disease state of a skin lesion, comprising:a user terminal provided
with a camera device with dermoscope anda remote diagnosis apparatus
communicably connected to the user terminal, whereinthe remote diagnosis
apparatus comprises:an image receiving unit for receiving a skin image of
a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition
portion, and time information relating to a time of sending the skin
image;an image storage for storing the received skin image after
associating the source information and the time information with the skin
image;a first diagnosis program for taking out the skin image from the
image storage to diagnose the skin image for the skin lesion;a diagnosis
result storage for storing a diagnosis result after associating the
source information and the time information with the diagnosis result;a
second diagnosis program for diagnosing the skin lesion based on plural
diagnosis results for the skin lesion having different time information;
anda sending unit for sending at least one of diagnosis results of the
first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program to a destination
designated by the source information.

36. The system according to claim 32, characterized in that the user
terminal is provided with a portable telephone function.

37. The system according to claim 32, characterized in that the user
terminal communicates via the Internet.

38. The system according to claim 22, characterized in that the dermoscope
comprises a polarizing filter.

39. The system according to claim 22, characterized in that the skin
lesion which is a subject of the diagnosis is melanoma.

40. A user terminal comprising:a camera device with dermoscope provided
with a polarizing filter;a sending unit capable of sending a skin image
of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope and source information for identifying the pigmentary
deposition portion;a receiving unit capable of receiving a diagnosis
result obtained by diagnosing the skin image for a skin lesion or a
pigmentary deposition; anda portable telephone function.

41. A user terminal characterized in that the sending/receiving unit
sends/receives to/from any one of the remote diagnosis apparatuses
defined in claim 1.

42. The user terminal according to claim 40, characterized in that the
sending unit capable of further sending time information relating to a
time of sending.

43. The user terminal according to claim 40, characterized by
communicating with the remote diagnosis apparatus via the Internet.

44. The user terminal according to claim 40, characterized in that the
skin lesion which is a subject of the diagnosis is melanoma.

45. A program for causing a computer to execute a remote diagnosis for
diagnosing a skin lesion, the computer being communicably connected to a
first user terminal and a second user terminal provided with a camera
device with dermoscope and comprising a database for storing data which
are received from the first user terminal and relate to the skin lesion,
a diagnosis program which is updated based on the data stored in the
database and diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion, and an image
storage for storing the skin images to be diagnosed, whereinthe program
causes the computer to executea step for receiving a skin image of a
pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope and source information for identifying the pigmentary
deposition portion from the second user terminal;a step for storing the
received skin image in the image storage after associating the source
information with the skin image;a step for taking out the skin image
stored in the image storage and diagnosing the skin image for the skin
lesion; anda step for sending a diagnosis result to a destination
designated by the source information.

46. A program for causing a computer to execute a remote diagnosis for
diagnosing presence/absence and a disease state of a skin lesion, the
computer being communicably connected to a first user terminal and a
second user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope and
comprising a database for storing data which are received from the first
user terminal and relate to the skin lesion, a first diagnosis program
which is updated based on the data stored in the database and diagnoses
skin images for the skin lesion, a second diagnosis program for
diagnosing the skin lesion based on a comparison of plural diagnosis
results for the skin lesion, an image storage for storing the skin images
to be diagnosed, and a diagnosis result storage for storing a diagnosis
result, whereinthe program causes the computer to execute a step for
receiving a first skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up
by the camera device with dermoscope, source information for identifying
the pigmentary deposition portion, and time information relating to a
time of sending the skin image from the second user terminal,a step for
storing the first skin image in the image storage after associating the
source information and the time information with the first skin image;a
step for taking out the first skin image stored in the image storage to
diagnose the first skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the
first diagnosis program;a step for storing a diagnosis result for the
first skin image in the diagnosis result storage after associating the
source information and the time information with the diagnosis result;a
step for receiving a second skin image of the pigmentary deposition
portion same as the first skin image picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope at a different time point, source information for identifying
the pigmentary deposition portion, and time information relating to a
time of sending the skin image from the second user terminal,a step for
storing the second skin image in the image storage after associating the
source information and the time information with the second skin image;a
step for taking out the second skin image stored in the image storage to
diagnose the second skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the
first diagnosis program;a step for diagnosing the skin lesion based on a
comparison between the diagnosis result for the first skin image and a
diagnosis result for the second skin image with the use of the second
diagnosis program; anda step for sending at least one of the diagnosis
results of the first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program
to a destination designated by the source information.

47. A program for causing a computer to execute a remote diagnosis for
diagnosing a skin lesion,the computer being communicably connected to a
database control server communicably connected to the first user terminal
and provided with a database for storing data which are received from the
first user terminal and relate to the skin lesion anda second user
terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscopeand comprising a
diagnosis program which is updated based on the data stored in the
database and diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion and an image
storage for storing the skin images to be diagnosed, whereinthe program
causes the computer to execute a step for receiving a skin image of a
pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope and source information for identifying the pigmentary
deposition portion from the second user terminal;a step for storing the
received skin image in the image storage after associating the source
information with the skin image;a step for taking out the stored skin
image and diagnosing the skin image for the skin lesion with the use of
the diagnosis program; anda step for sending a diagnosis result to a
destination designated by the source information.

48. A program for causing a computer to execute a remote diagnosis for
diagnosing a skin lesion, the computer being communicably connected toa
database control server communicably connected to the first user terminal
and provided with a database for storing data which are received from the
first user terminal and relate to the skin lesion anda second user
terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscopeand comprisinga
first diagnosis program which is updated based on the data stored in the
database and diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion;a second diagnosis
program for diagnosing the skin lesion based on a comparison of plural
diagnosis results for the skin lesion;an image storage for storing the
skin images to be diagnosed; anda diagnosis result storage for storing a
diagnosis result, whereinthe program causes the computer to executea step
for receiving a first skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion
picked up by the camera device with dermoscope, source information for
identifying the pigmentary deposition portion, and time information
relating to a time of sending the skin image from the second user
terminal;a step for storing the received first skin image in the image
storage after associating the source information and the time information
with the first skin image;a step for taking out the stored first skin
image to diagnose the first skin image for the skin lesion with the use
of the first diagnosis program;a step for storing a diagnosis result for
the first skin image in the diagnosis result storage after associating
the source information and the time information with the diagnosis
result;a step for receiving a second skin image of the pigmentary
deposition portion same as the first skin image picked up by the camera
device with dermoscope, source information for identifying the skin
lesion, and time information relating to a time of sending the skin image
from the second user terminal;a step for storing the received second skin
image after associating the source information and the time information
with the second skin image;a step for taking out the stored second skin
image to diagnose the second skin image for the skin lesion with the use
of the first diagnosis program;a step for diagnosing the skin lesion
based on a comparison between the diagnosis result for the first skin
image and a diagnosis result for the second skin image with the use of
the second diagnosis program; anda step for sending at least one of the
diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis
program to a destination designated by the source information.

49. A program for causing a computer to execute a remote diagnosis for
diagnosing a skin lesion,the computer being communicably connected toa
user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope and
comprisinga diagnosis program for diagnosing skin images for the skin
lesion andan image storage for storing the skin images to be diagnosed,
whereinthe program causes the computer to execute a step for receiving a
skin image picked up by the camera device with dermoscope and source
information for identifying the user terminal with the dermoscope;a step
for storing the received skin image in the image storage after
associating the source information with the skin image;a step for taking
out the skin image stored in the image storage and diagnosing the skin
image for the skin lesion with the use of the diagnosis program; anda
step for sending a diagnosis result to a destination designated by the
source information.

50. A program for causing a computer to execute a remote diagnosis for
diagnosing a skin lesion,the computer being communicably connected toa
user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope and
comprising:a first diagnosis program for diagnosing the skin images for
the skin lesion;a second diagnosis program for diagnosing the skin lesion
based on a comparison of plural diagnosis results for the skin lesion;an
image storage for storing the skin images to be diagnosed; anda diagnosis
result storage for storing a diagnosis result, whereinthe program causes
the computer to execute a step for receiving a first skin image of a
pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition
portion, and time information relating to a time of sending;a step for
storing the first skin image in the image storage after associating the
source information and the time information with the first skin image;a
step for taking out the first skin image stored in the image storage to
diagnose the first skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the
first diagnosis program;a step for storing a diagnosis result for the
first skin image in the diagnosis result storage after associating the
source information and the time information with the diagnosis result;a
step for receiving a second skin image of the pigmentary deposition
portion same as the first skin image picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope, source information for identifying the second pigmentary
deposition portion, and time information relating to a time of sending;a
step for storing the received second skin image in the image storage
after associating the source information and the time information with
the second skin image;a step for taking out the second skin image stored
in the image storage to diagnose the second skin image for the skin
lesion with the use of the first diagnosis program;a step for diagnosing
the skin lesion based on a comparison between the diagnosis result for
the first skin image and a diagnosis result for the second skin image
with the use of the second diagnosis program; anda step for sending at
least one of the diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the
second diagnosis program to a destination designated by the source
information.

51. A storage storing the program defined in claim 45 in a
machine-readable form.

52. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a user terminal
provided with a camera device with dermoscope, the remote diagnosis
apparatus comprising:a first diagnosis program diagnosing skin images for
the pigmentary deposition anda second diagnosis program for diagnosing
based on plural diagnosis results for the pigmentary deposition
andreceiving a first skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked
up by the camera device with dermoscope from the user terminal;diagnosing
the first skin image for the pigmentary deposition with the use of the
first diagnosis program;storing a diagnosis result for the first skin
image;receiving a second skin image of the pigmentary deposition portion
same as the first skin image picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope at a different time point from the user terminal;diagnosing
the second skin image for the pigmentary deposition with the use of the
first diagnosis program;comparing the diagnosis result for the first skin
image with a diagnosis result for the second skin image with the use of
the second diagnosis program; andsending at least one of the diagnosis
results of the first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program
to a destination designated by the source information.

53. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a user terminal
provided with a camera device with dermoscope, the remote diagnosis
apparatus comprising:a first diagnosis program diagnosing skin images for
the pigmentary deposition;a second diagnosis program for diagnosing based
on plural diagnosis results for the pigmentary deposition;an image
storage for storing the skin images to be diagnosed; anda diagnosis
result storage for storing a diagnosis result,receiving a first skin
image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device
with dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary
deposition portion, and first time information relating to a time of
sending the first skin image from the user terminal,storing the received
first skin image in the image storage after associating the source
information and the first time information with the first skin
image,taking out the first skin image stored in the image storage to
diagnose the first skin image for the pigmentary deposition with the use
of the first diagnosis program,storing a diagnosis result for the first
skin image in the diagnosis result storage after associating the source
information and the first time information with the diagnosis
result,receiving a second skin image of the pigmentary deposition portion
same as the first skin image picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope at a different time point, source information for identifying
the pigmentary deposition portion, and second time information relating
to a time of sending from the user terminal, storing the second skin
image in the diagnosis result storage after associating the source
information with the second skin image,taking out the stored second skin
image to diagnose the second skin image for the pigmentary deposition
with the use of the first diagnosis program,diagnosing through a
comparison between the diagnosis result for the first skin image and a
diagnosis result for the second skin image with the use of the second
diagnosis program, and sending at least one of the diagnosis results of
the first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program to a
destination designated by the source information.

54. A remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a user terminal
provided with a camera device with dermoscope, the remote diagnosis
apparatus comprising:a receiving unit for receiving a skin image of a
pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition
portion, and time information relating to a time of sending the skin
image from the user terminal;an image storage for storing the received
skin image after associating the source information and the time
information with the skin image;a first diagnosis program for taking out
the skin image stored in the image storage to diagnose the skin image for
a pigmentary deposition;a diagnosis result storage for storing a
diagnosis result after associating the source information and the time
information with the diagnosis result for the skin image;a second
diagnosis program capable of diagnosing the pigmentary deposition based
on plural diagnosis results for the pigmentary deposition of the skin
image, which are stored in the diagnosis result storage and different in
time information; anda sending unit for sending at least one of diagnosis
results of the first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program
to a destination designated by the source information.

55. The remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 52, characterized in
that the user terminal is provided with a portable telephone function.

56. The remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 52, characterized in
that the user terminal communicates via the Internet.

57. A remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin having a pigmentary
deposition, comprisinga user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope anda remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to the
user terminal and comprisinga first diagnosis program for diagnosing skin
images for the pigmentary deposition anda second diagnosis program
capable of diagnosing the pigmentary deposition based on a comparison of
plural results of the diagnosis, whereinthe user terminal sends a first
skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera
device with dermoscope to the remote diagnosis apparatus;the remote
diagnosis apparatusreceives the first skin image anddiagnoses the
received first skin image for the pigmentary deposition with the use of
the first diagnosis program;the user terminal sends a second skin image
of the pigmentary deposition portion same as the first skin image picked
up by the camera device with dermoscope to the remote diagnosis
apparatus;the remote diagnosis apparatusreceives the second skin
image;diagnoses the received second skin image for the pigmentary
deposition with the use of the first diagnosis program;diagnosing the
pigmentary deposition based on a comparison between the diagnosis result
for the first skin image with a diagnosis result for the second skin
image with the use of the second diagnosis program; andsends at least one
of the diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the second
diagnosis program to the second user terminal.

58. A remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a pigmentary deposition,
comprising:a user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope
anda remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to the user
terminal, whereinthe user terminal comprises a sending unit for sending a
skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera
device with dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary
deposition portion, and time information relating to a time of sending
the skin image to the remote diagnosis apparatus, andthe remote diagnosis
apparatus comprises:an image receiving unit for receiving the skin image,
the source information, and the time information from the second user
terminal;an image storage for storing the received skin image after
associating the source information and the time information with the skin
image;a first diagnosis program for diagnosing the received skin image
for the pigmentary deposition;a second diagnosis program capable of
diagnosing based on plural diagnosis results for the pigmentary
deposition;a diagnosis result storage for storing the diagnosis result;
anda sending unit for sending the diagnosis result to a predetermined
destination.

59. The system according to claim 57, characterized in that the user
terminal is provided with a portable telephone function.

60. The system according to claim 57, characterized in that the user
terminal communicates via the Internet.

61. A remote diagnosis method for diagnosing a pigmentary deposition other
than skin lesions using a remote diagnosis apparatus which is
communicably connected to a user terminal provided with a camera device
with dermoscope and comprises:an image receiving unit for receiving a
skin image to be diagnosed from the user terminal;an image storage for
storing a skin image;a first diagnosis program for diagnosing skin images
for the pigmentary deposition;a second diagnosis program diagnosing based
on plural diagnosis results for the pigmentary deposition;a diagnosis
result storage for storing the diagnosis results; anda diagnosis result
sending unit for sending at least one of the diagnosis results of the
first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program to the user
terminal, whereinthe image receiving unit receives a first skin image of
a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition
portion, and first time information relating to a time of sending the
first skin image from the user terminal;the image storage stores the
first skin image after associating the source information and the first
time information with the skin image;the first diagnosis program takes
out the first skin image stored in the image storage to diagnose the
first skin image for the pigmentary deposition;the diagnosis result
storage stores a diagnosis result for the first skin image after
associating the source information and the first time information with
the diagnosis result;the image receiving unit receives a second skin
image of the pigmentary deposition portion same as the first skin image
picked up by the camera device with dermoscope at a different time point,
source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion, and
second time information relating to a sending time from the user
terminal;the diagnosis result storage stores the received second skin
image after associating the source information with the second skin
image;the first diagnosis program takes out the stored second skin image
to diagnose the second skin image for the pigmentary deposition;the
second diagnosis program diagnoses through a comparison between the
diagnosis result for the first skin image and the diagnosis result for
the second skin image;the diagnosis result sending unit sends at least
one of the diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the
second diagnosis program to a destination designated by the source
information.

62. A diagnosis program which is updated based on plural skin images
stored in a database of which diagnoses have been determined and used for
diagnosing skin images to be diagnosed for a skin lesion, the diagnosis
program causing a computer to executea step for performing image
processing by separating a pigmentary disorder portion of a skin lesion
from a peripheral normal portion in each of plural skin images on which
the diagnoses have been made and separating a rim portion of the
separated pigmentary disorder portion;a step for deciding parameters to
be used for discrimination of characteristics of the pigmentary disorder,
such as a color, a texture, an asymmetricity, and a circularity; anda
step for performing evaluation of each of the parameters using a
predetermined system on the diagnosed skin images with the use of each of
the parameters, performing evaluation of each of other parameters using
the predetermined system on the diagnosed skin images with the use of
each of other parameters, repeating the same operation until a diagnosis
capability of any one of parameter combinations reaches a predetermined
value, and, ultimately, selecting a parameter combination having a
smallest number of parameters from the parameter combinations having the
diagnosis capability equal to or more than the predetermined value.

63. The diagnosis program according to claim 62, wherein the program
further causes the computer to executea step for performing the image
processing on a skin image to be diagnosed anda step for obtaining a
diagnosis result for the skin image to be diagnosed using the
predetermined system with the use of the parameter combination selected
in the fourth step.

64. The diagnosis program according to claim 62, characterized in that the
predetermined system is a neural network system.

65. The diagnosis program according to claim 62, characterized in that at
least one of the parameter evaluations is performed by employing a
leave-one-out method.

66. The diagnosis program according to claim 62, characterized in that the
skin lesion which is a subject of the diagnosis is melanoma.

67. A storage storing the program defined in claim 62, in a
machine-readable form.

68. A method for screening a cosmetic agent or a drug for diminishing a
pigmentary deposition of skin using the remote diagnosis apparatus
according to claim 52.

69. A method for screening a cosmetic agent or a drug for diminishing a
pigmentary deposition of skin using the remote diagnosis system according
to claim 57.

70. A method for screening a cosmetic agent or a drug for diminishing a
pigmentary deposition of skin using the remote diagnosis method according
to claim 61.

Description:

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]This invention relates to a remote diagnosis apparatus to be used
for performing a remote diagnosis of a pigmentary deposition portion, a
remote diagnosis system, a user terminal, a program, a diagnosis program,
and a storage.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002]Melanocyte (pigmentary cell) exists all over the basal lamina of the
epidermis. When the melanocyte grows to be melanoma (malignant melanoma),
abnormal proliferation of the cell occurs to spread from the basal lamina
to the dermis which is under the basal lamina. When the melanoma spreads
to a certain degree (less than 1 mm to a several millimeters), the tumor
cells spread further in the vertical direction to form an ulcer (a hole
is formed due to destruction of cell surfaces to allow the lower lamina
to be seen). After that, the tumor cells develop metastasis to spread to
the adjacent lymphatic node.

[0003]In the case where the melanoma is diagnosed in its early stage,
particularly when the diagnosis is made when the melanoma has a thickness
of 0.75 mm or less, such melanoma is not life-threatening and results in
good prognosis (5-year survival rate is 93% or more; see, for example,
Cancer, vol. 62, p 1207-1214, USA, 1988).

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Though the melanoma is lower in
occurrence frequency as compared to other types of tumors, it has a high
malignancy and is rapidly progressive to invade and spread in a shorter
period of time as compared to other types of skin cancers such as basal
cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. Also, there are few effective
therapeutic methods for the case of a lesion in which the tumor cells
generate distant metastasis. Further, it is difficult to distinguish the
melanoma from benign nevus pigmentosus with the naked eye, so that the
progression cannot be determined in many cases. For the above reasons,
patients with the melanoma tend to take long to make their first visit to
hospitals, and the melanoma is found at the advanced stage which is
difficult to cure.

[0004]Therefore, a major object of this invention is to provide a remote
diagnosis apparatus, a remote diagnosis system, a user terminal, a
program, a diagnosis program, and a storage to be used for conveniently
diagnosing a remote pigmentary deposition portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005]A remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention is a remote
diagnosis apparatus for diagnosing a skin lesion, which is communicably
connected to a first user terminal and a second user terminal provided
with a camera device with dermoscope, comprising: a database for storing
data which are received from the first user terminal and relate to the
skin lesion, and a diagnosis program updated based on the data stored in
the database and diagnosing skin images for the skin lesion, the remote
diagnosis apparatus receiving a skin image of a pigmentary deposition
portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope from the second
user terminal; diagnosing the received skin image for the skin lesion
with the use of the diagnosis program; and sending a diagnosis result to
a predetermined destination.

[0006]As used herein, the pigmentary deposition portion means a pigmented
region of a skin. The pigmentary deposition may be that caused by a skin
lesion such as melanoma which is a subject of treatment or that having no
skin lesion such as pigmented macule which is not the subject of
treatment.

[0007]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a first user
terminal and a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprising: a database for storing data which are received
from the first user terminal and relate to a skin lesion; a diagnosis
program which is updated based on the data stored in the database and
diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion; and an image storage for
storing the skin images to be diagnosed, the remote diagnosis apparatus
receiving a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by
the camera device with dermoscope and source information for identifying
the pigmentary deposition portion from the second user terminal and
storing the received skin image in the image storage after associating
the source information with the skin image, and the diagnosis program
taking out the skin image stored in the image storage to diagnose the
skin image for the skin lesion and sending a diagnosis result to a
destination designated by the source information.

[0008]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a first user
terminal and a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprising: a data receiving unit for receiving data relating
to a skin lesion from the first user terminal; a database for storing
data relating to the skin lesion, which stores the received data; a
receiving unit for receiving a skin image of a pigmentary deposition
portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope and source
information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion from the
second user terminal; an image storage for storing the received skin
image after associating the source information with the skin image; a
diagnosis program which is updated based on the data stored in the
database and takes out the skin image stored in the image storage to
diagnose the skin image for the skin lesion; and a sending unit for
sending a diagnosis result of the diagnosis program to a destination
designated by the source information.

[0009]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a first user
terminal and a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprising: a database for storing data which are received
from the first user terminal and relate to a skin lesion; a first
diagnosis program which is updated based on the data stored in the
database and diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion; and a second
diagnosis program for diagnosing based on a comparison of plural
diagnosis results for the skin lesion, the remote diagnosis apparatus
receiving a first skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up
by the camera device with dermoscope from the second user terminal to
diagnose the first skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the
first diagnosis program, storing a diagnosis result for the first skin
image, receiving a second skin image of the pigmentary deposition portion
same as the first skin image picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope at a different time point from the second user terminal and
diagnosing the second skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the
first diagnosis program, diagnosing the skin lesion by comparing the
diagnosis result for the first skin image with a diagnosis result for the
second skin image with the use of the second diagnosis program, and
sending at least one of the diagnosis results of the first diagnosis
program and the second diagnosis program to a predetermined destination.

[0010]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a first user
terminal and a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprising: a database for storing data which are received
from the first user terminal and relate to a skin lesion; a first
diagnosis program which is updated based on the data stored in the
database and diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion; a second
diagnosis program for diagnosing based on a comparison of plural
diagnosis results for the skin lesion; an image storage for storing the
skin images to be diagnosed; and a diagnosis result storage for storing a
diagnosis result, the remote diagnosis apparatus receiving a first skin
image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device
with dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary
deposition portion, and first time information relating to a time of
sending the first skin image from the second user terminal, storing the
first skin image in the image storage after associating the source
information and the first time information with the first skin image,
taking out the first skin image stored in the image storage to diagnose
the first skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the first
diagnosis program, storing a diagnosis result for the first skin image in
the diagnosis result storage after associating the source information and
the first time information with the diagnosis result, receiving a second
skin image of the pigmentary deposition portion same as the first skin
image picked up by the camera device with dermoscope at a different time
point, source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition
portion, and second time information relating to a time of sending the
second skin image from the second user terminal, storing the second skin
image in the image storage after associating the source information and
the second time information with the second skin image, taking out the
second skin image stored in the image storage to diagnose the second skin
image for the skin lesion with the use of the first diagnosis program,
comparing the diagnosis result for the first skin image with a diagnosis
result for the second skin image with the use of the second diagnosis
program to diagnose further for the skin lesion, and sending at least one
of the diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the second
diagnosis program to a destination designated by the source information.

[0011]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a first user
terminal and a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, comprising: a database for storing data relating to a skin
lesion; a data receiving unit for receiving data relating to the skin
lesion from the first user terminal; a database for storing data relating
to the skin lesion, which stores the received data; a receiving unit for
receiving a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by
the camera device with dermoscope, source information for identifying the
pigmentary deposition portion, and time information relating to a time of
sending the skin image from the second user terminal; an image storage
for storing the received skin image after associating the source
information and the time information with the skin image; a first
diagnosis program which is updated based on the data stored in the
database and takes out the skin image stored in the image storage to
diagnose the skin image for the skin lesion; a diagnosis result storage
for storing a diagnosis result after associating the source information
and the time information with the diagnosis result; a second diagnosis
program capable of diagnosing the skin lesion based on plural diagnosis
results for the skin lesion having different time information; and a
sending unit for sending at least one of diagnosis results of the first
diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program to a destination
designated by the source information.

[0012]Note that each of the second user terminals may preferably be
provided with a portable telephone function. Also, each of the second
user terminals may preferably communicate via the Internet.

[0013]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a database control
server provided with a database for storing data relating to a skin
lesion and a user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope,
comprising a diagnosis program which is updated based on the data stored
in the database and diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion, the remote
diagnosis apparatus receiving a skin image of a pigmentary deposition
portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope from the user
terminal, diagnosing the received skin image for the skin lesion with the
use of the diagnosis program, and sending a diagnosis result to a
predetermined destination.

[0014]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a database control
server provided with a database for storing data relating to a skin
lesion and a user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope,
comprising a diagnosis program which is updated based on the data stored
in the database and diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion and an
image storage for storing the skin images to be diagnosed, the remote
diagnosis apparatus receiving a skin image of a pigmentary deposition
portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope and source
information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion from the
user terminal, storing the received skin image in the image storage after
associating the source information with the skin image, diagnosing the
skin image stored in the image storage for the skin lesion with the use
of the diagnosis program, and sending a diagnosis result to a destination
designated by the source information.

[0015]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a database control
server provided with a database for storing data relating to a skin
lesion and a user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope,
comprising: a receiving unit for receiving a skin image of a pigmentary
deposition portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope and
source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion from
the user terminal; an image storage for storing the received skin image
after associating the source information with the skin image; a diagnosis
program which is updated based on the data stored in the database and
takes out the skin image stored in the image storage to diagnose the skin
image for the skin lesion; and a sending unit for sending a diagnosis
result of the diagnosis program to a destination designated by the source
information.

[0016]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a database control
server provided with a database for storing data relating to a skin
lesion and a user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope,
comprising a first diagnosis program which is updated based on the data
stored in the database and diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion and
a second diagnosis program for diagnosing based on plural diagnosis
results for the skin lesion, the remote diagnosis apparatus receiving a
first skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the
camera device with dermoscope from the user terminal, diagnosing the
first skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the first diagnosis
program, storing a diagnosis result for the first skin image, receiving a
second skin image of the pigmentary deposition portion same as the first
skin image picked up by the camera device with dermoscope at a different
time point from the user terminal, diagnosing the second skin image for
the skin lesion with the use of the first diagnosis program, comparing
the diagnosis result for the first skin image with a diagnosis result for
the second skin image with the use of the second diagnosis program, and
sending at least one of the diagnosis results of the first diagnosis
program and the second diagnosis program to a destination designated by
the source information.

[0017]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a database control
server provided with a database for storing data relating to a skin
lesion and a user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope,
comprising: a first diagnosis program which is updated based on the data
stored in the database and diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion; a
second diagnosis program for diagnosing based on plural diagnosis results
for the skin lesion; an image storage for storing the skin images to be
diagnosed; and a diagnosis result storage for storing a diagnosis result,
the remote diagnosis apparatus receiving a first skin image of a
pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition
portion, and first time information relating to a time of sending the
first skin image from the user terminal, storing the first skin image in
the image storage after associating the source information and the first
time information with the first skin image, taking out the first skin
image stored in the image storage to diagnose the first skin image for
the skin lesion with the use of the first diagnosis program, storing a
diagnosis result for the first skin image in the diagnosis result storage
after associating the source information and the first time information
with the diagnosis result, receiving a second skin image of the
pigmentary deposition portion same as the first skin image picked up by
the camera device with dermoscope at a different time point, source
information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion, and second
time information relating to a time of sending the second skin image from
the user terminal, storing the second skin image in the diagnosis result
storage after associating the source information with the second skin
image, taking out the stored second skin image to diagnose the second
skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the first diagnosis
program, diagnosing through a comparison between the diagnosis result for
the first skin image and a diagnosis result for the second skin image
with the use of the second diagnosis program, and sending at least one of
the diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the second
diagnosis program to a destination designated by the source information.

[0018]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a database control
server provided with a database for storing data relating to a skin
lesion and a user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope,
comprising: a receiving unit for receiving a skin image of a pigmentary
deposition portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope, source
information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion, and time
information relating to a time of sending the skin image from the user
terminal; an image storage for storing the received skin image after
associating the source information and the time information with the skin
image; a first diagnosis program which is updated based on the data
stored in the database and takes out the skin image stored in the image
storage to diagnose the skin image for a skin lesion; a diagnosis result
storage for storing a diagnosis result for the skin image after
associating the source information and the time information with the
diagnosis result; a second diagnosis program capable of diagnosing the
skin lesion based on plural diagnosis results for the skin lesion of the
skin image, which are stored in the diagnosis result storage and
different in time information; and a sending unit for sending at least
one of diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the second
diagnosis program to a destination designated by the source information.

[0019]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a user terminal
provided with a camera device with dermoscope, comprising receiving a
skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera
device with dermoscope; diagnosing the received skin image for the skin
lesion; and sending a diagnosis result to a predetermined destination.

[0020]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a user terminal
provided with a camera device with dermoscope, comprising a diagnosis
program for diagnosing skin images for the skin lesion and an image
storage for storing the skin images to be diagnosed; the remote diagnosis
apparatus receiving a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion
picked up by the camera device with dermoscope and source information for
identifying the pigmentary deposition portion, storing the received skin
image in the image storage after associating the source information with
the skin image, taking out the skin image stored in the image storage and
diagnosing the skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the
diagnosis program, and sending a diagnosis result to a destination
designated by the source information.

[0021]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a user terminal
provided with a camera device with dermoscope, comprising: a receiving
unit for receiving a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked
up by the camera device with dermoscope and source information for
identifying the pigmentary deposition portion; an image storage for
storing the received skin image after associating the source information
with the skin image; a diagnosis program for taking out the skin image
stored in the image storage to diagnose the skin image for the skin
lesion; and a sending unit for sending a diagnosis result of the
diagnosis program to a destination designated by the source information.

[0022]Note that each of the user terminals may preferably be provided with
a portable telephone function. Also, each of the second terminals may
preferably communicate via the Internet.

[0023]Also, each of the dermoscopes may preferably be provided with a
polarizing filter. Also, the skin lesion which is the diagnosis subject
may preferably be melanoma.

[0024]The remote diagnosis system according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising: a first
user terminal; a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope; a remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to the
first user terminal and the second user terminal and comprises a database
for storing data which are received from the first user terminal and
relate to the skin lesion; and a diagnosis program relating to the skin
lesion which is updated based on the data stored in the database, wherein
the second user terminal sends a skin image of a pigmentary deposition
portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope to the remote
diagnosis apparatus, and the remote diagnosis apparatus receives the skin
image, diagnoses the received skin image for the skin lesion with the use
of the diagnosis program, and sends a diagnosis result to a predetermined
destination.

[0025]The remote diagnosis system according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising: a first
user terminal; a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope; and a remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to
the first and the second user terminals, wherein the first user terminal
comprises a sending unit for sending data relating to the skin lesion to
the remote diagnosis apparatus, the second user terminal comprises a
sending unit for sending a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion
picked up by the camera device with dermoscope to the remote diagnosis
apparatus, and the remote diagnosis apparatus comprises a data receiving
unit for receiving the data from the first user terminal, a database for
storing the data which are received from the first user terminal and
relate to the skin lesion, an image receiving unit for receiving the skin
image from the second user terminal, a diagnosis program which is updated
based on the data stored in the database and diagnoses the skin image
received from the second user terminal for the skin lesion, and a sending
unit for sending a diagnosis result to a predetermined destination.

[0026]The remote diagnosis system according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising: a first
user terminal; a database control server communicably connected to the
first user terminal and provided with a database for storing data which
are received from the first user terminal and relate to the skin lesion;
a second user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope; and
a remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to the database
control server and the second user terminal and provided with a diagnosis
program which is updated based on the data stored in the database and
diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion, wherein the second user
terminal sends a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up
by the camera device with dermoscope; and the remote diagnosis apparatus
diagnoses the skin image received from the second user terminal for the
skin lesion with the use of the diagnosis program and sends a diagnosis
result to a predetermined destination.

[0027]The remote diagnosis system according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising: a first
user terminal; a database control server communicably connected to the
first user terminal; a second user terminal provided with a camera device
with dermoscope; and a remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected
to the database control server and the second user terminal, wherein the
first user terminal comprises a sending unit for sending data relating to
the skin lesion to the remote diagnosis apparatus, the database control
server comprises a data receiving unit for receiving the data from the
first user terminal and a database for storing the data which are
received from the first user terminal and relate to the skin lesion; the
second user terminal comprises a sending unit for sending a skin image of
a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope to the remote diagnosis apparatus, and the remote diagnosis
apparatus comprises a receiving unit for receiving the skin image from
the second user terminal; a diagnosis program which is updated based on
the data stored in the database and diagnoses the skin image received
from the second user terminal for the skin lesion; and a sending unit for
sending a diagnosis result to a predetermined destination.

[0028]The remote diagnosis system according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising: a first
user terminal; a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope; and a remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to
the first and the second user terminals and comprises a database for
storing data which are received from the first user terminal and relate
to the skin lesion, a first diagnosis program which is updated based on
the data stored in the database and diagnoses skin images for the skin
lesion, and a second diagnosis program for diagnosing based on plural
diagnosis results for the skin lesion, wherein the second user terminal
sends a first skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by
the camera device with dermoscope to the remote diagnosis apparatus; the
remote diagnosis apparatus receives the first skin image and diagnoses
the received skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the first
diagnosis program; the second user terminal sends a second skin image of
the pigmentary deposition portion same as the first skin image picked up
by the camera device with dermoscope at a different time point to the
remote diagnosis apparatus; the remote diagnosis apparatus receives the
second skin image and diagnoses the received second skin image for the
skin lesion with the use of the first diagnosis program; the remote
diagnosis apparatus diagnoses the skin lesion by comparing the diagnosis
result for the first skin image with a diagnosis result for the second
skin image with the use of the second diagnosis program and sends at
least one of the diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the
second diagnosis program to a predetermined destination.

[0029]The remote diagnosis system according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising: a first
user terminal; a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope; and a remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to
the first and the second user terminals, wherein the first user terminal
comprises a sending unit for sending data relating to the skin lesion to
the remote diagnosis apparatus; the second user terminal comprises a
sending unit for sending a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion
picked up by the camera device with dermoscope, source information for
identifying the pigmentary deposition portion, and time information
relating to a time of sending the skin image to the remote diagnosis
apparatus; and the remote diagnosis apparatus comprises a data receiving
unit for receiving the data from the first user terminal; a database for
storing the data which are received from the first user terminal and
relate to the skin lesion; an image receiving unit for receiving the skin
image, the source information, and the time information from the second
user terminal; an image storage for storing the received skin image after
associating the source information and the time information with the skin
image; a first diagnosis program which is updated based on the data
stored in the database and diagnoses the skin image taken out from the
storage for the skin lesion; a second diagnosis program capable of
diagnosing the skin lesion based on plural diagnosis results for the skin
lesion of the skin image, which are stored in the diagnosis result
storage and different in time information, the diagnosis results being
stored in the diagnosis result storage; and a sending unit for sending at
least one of diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the
second diagnosis program to a predetermined destination.

[0030]The remote diagnosis system according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising: a first
user terminal; a database control server communicably connected to the
first user terminal and provided with a database for storing data which
are received from the first user terminal and relate to the skin lesion;
a second user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope; and
a remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to the second user
terminal and comprising a first diagnosis program which is updated based
on the data stored in the database and diagnoses skin images for the skin
lesion, and a second diagnosis program for diagnosing the skin lesion
based on a comparison of plural diagnosis results, wherein the second
user terminal sends a first skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion
picked up by the camera device with dermoscope to the remote diagnosis
apparatus; the remote diagnosis apparatus receives the first skin image
and diagnoses the received first skin image for the skin lesion with the
use of the first diagnosis program; the second user terminal sends a
second skin image of the pigmentary deposition portion same as the first
skin image picked up by the camera device with dermoscope to the remote
diagnosis apparatus; the remote diagnosis apparatus receives the second
skin image, diagnoses the received second skin image for the skin lesion
with the use of the first diagnosis program, diagnoses the skin lesion
based on a comparison between the diagnosis result for the first skin
image and a diagnosis result for the second skin image with the use of
the second diagnosis program, and sends at least one of the diagnosis
results of the first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program
to the second user terminal.

[0031]The remote diagnosis system according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a pigmentary deposition portion,
comprising: a first user terminal; a database control server communicably
connected to the first user terminal; a second user terminal provided
with a camera device with dermoscope; and a remote diagnosis apparatus
communicably connected to the database control server and the second user
terminal, wherein the first user terminal comprises a sending unit for
sending data relating to the skin lesion to the remote diagnosis
apparatus; the database control server comprises a data receiving unit
for receiving the data from the first user terminal and a database for
storing the data received from the first user terminal; the second user
terminal comprises a sending unit for sending a skin image of a
pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition
portion, and time information relating to a time of sending the skin
image to the remote diagnosis apparatus; and the remote diagnosis
apparatus comprises an image receiving unit for receiving the skin image,
the source information, and the time information from the second user
terminal; an image storage for storing the skin image after associating
the source information and the time information with the skin image; a
first diagnosis program which is updated based on the data stored in the
database and diagnoses the received skin image for the skin lesion; a
second diagnosis program capable of diagnosing based on plural diagnosis
results for the skin lesion; a diagnosis result storage for storing the
diagnosis results; and a sending unit for sending the diagnosis result to
a predetermined destination.

[0032]Note that each of the second user terminals may preferably be
provided with a portable telephone function. Also, each of the second
user terminals may preferably communicate via the Internet.

[0033]The remote diagnosis system according to this invention may be a
remote medial system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising: a user
terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope and a remote
diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to the user terminal, wherein
the user terminal sends a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion
picked up by the camera device with dermoscope and source information for
identifying the pigmentary deposition portion to the remote diagnosis
apparatus, and the remote diagnosis apparatus diagnoses the skin image
received from the user terminal for the skin lesion to send a diagnosis
result to a destination designated by the source information.

[0034]The remote diagnosis system according to this invention may be a
remote medical diagnosis system for diagnosing presence/absence and a
disease state of a skin lesion, comprising: a user terminal provided with
a camera device with dermoscope and a remote diagnosis apparatus
communicably connected to the user terminal, wherein the user terminal
comprises a sending unit for sending a skin image of a pigmentary
deposition portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope to the
remote diagnosis apparatus, and the remote diagnosis apparatus comprises
a receiving unit for receiving the skin image of the pigmentary
deposition portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope and
source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion; an
image storage for storing the received skin image after associating the
source information with the skin image; a diagnosis program taking out
the skin image stored in the image storage to diagnose the skin image for
the skin lesion; and a sending unit for sending a diagnosis result
obtained by the diagnosis to a destination designated by the source
information.

[0035]The remote diagnosis system according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising: a user
terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope; a remote
diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to the user terminal; a first
diagnosis program diagnosing skin images for the skin lesion; and a
second diagnosis program for diagnosing based on plural diagnosis results
for the skin lesion, wherein the user terminal sends a first skin image
of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope to the remote diagnosis apparatus; the remote diagnosis
apparatus receives the first skin image and diagnoses the received first
skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the first diagnosis
program, and the user terminal sends a second skin image of the
pigmentary deposition portion same as the first skin image picked up by
the camera device with dermoscope to the remote diagnosis apparatus, and
the remote diagnosis apparatus receives the second skin image, diagnoses
the second skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the first
diagnosis program, diagnoses the skin lesion based on a comparison
between the diagnosis result for the first skin image and a diagnosis
result for the second skin image with the use of the second diagnosis
program, and sends at least one of the diagnosis results of the first
diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program to a destination
designated by the source information.

[0036]The remote diagnosis system according to this invention may be a
remote medical diagnosis system for diagnosing presence/absence and a
disease state of a skin lesion and may comprise: a user terminal provided
with a camera device with dermoscope and a remote diagnosis apparatus
communicably connected to the user terminal, wherein the remote diagnosis
apparatus comprises: an image receiving unit for receiving a skin image
of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition
portion, and time information relating to a time of sending the skin
image; an image storage for storing the received skin image after
associating the source information and the time information with the skin
image; a first diagnosis program for taking out the skin image from the
image storage to diagnose the skin image for the skin lesion; a diagnosis
result storage for storing a diagnosis result after associating the
source information and the time information with the diagnosis result; a
second diagnosis program for diagnosing the skin lesion based on plural
diagnosis results for the skin lesion having different time information;
and a sending unit for sending at least one of diagnosis results of the
first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program to a destination
designated by the source information.

[0037]Note that each of the user terminals in the above-described systems
may preferably be provided with a portable telephone function. Also, each
of the user terminals may preferably communicate via the Internet. Also,
each of the dermoscopes may preferably be provided with a polarizing
filter. Also, the skin lesion which is a subject of the diagnosis may
preferably be melanoma.

[0038]A user terminal according to this invention comprises a camera
device with dermoscope provided with a polarizing filter; a sending unit
capable of sending a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked
up by the camera device with dermoscope and source information for
identifying the pigmentary deposition portion; a receiving unit capable
of receiving a diagnosis result obtained by diagnosing the skin image for
a skin lesion; and a portable telephone function.

[0039]In the user terminal, it is preferred that the sending/receiving
unit may send/receive to/from any one of the remote diagnosis
apparatuses. The sending unit may further send time information relating
to a time of sending. It is preferable to communicate with the remote
diagnosis apparatus via the Internet. The skin lesion which is a subject
of the diagnosis may preferably be melanoma.

[0040]A program according to this invention is a program for causing a
computer to execute a remote diagnosis for diagnosing a skin lesion, the
computer being communicably connected to a first user terminal and a
second user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope and
comprising a database for storing data which are received from the first
user terminal and relate to the skin lesion, a diagnosis program which is
updated based on the data stored in the database and diagnoses skin
images for the skin lesion, and an image storage for storing the skin
images to be diagnosed, wherein the program causes the computer to
execute a step for receiving a skin image of a pigmentary deposition
portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope and source
information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion from the
second user terminal; a step for storing the received skin image in the
image storage after associating the source information with the skin
image; a step for taking out the skin image stored in the image storage
and diagnosing the skin image for the skin lesion; and a step for sending
a diagnosis result to a destination designated by the source information.

[0041]The program according to this invention is a program for causing a
computer to execute a remote diagnosis for diagnosing presence/absence
and a disease state of a skin lesion, the computer being communicably
connected to a first user terminal and a second user terminal provided
with a camera device with dermoscope and comprising a database for
storing data which are received from the first user terminal and relate
to the skin lesion, a first diagnosis program which is updated based on
the data stored in the database and diagnoses skin images for the skin
lesion, a second diagnosis program for diagnosing the skin lesion based
on plural diagnosis results for the skin lesion, an image storage for
storing the skin images to be diagnosed, and a diagnosis result storage
for storing a diagnosis result, wherein the program may cause the
computer to execute a step for receiving a first skin image of a skin
lesion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope, source information
for identifying the skin lesion, and time information relating to a time
of sending the skin image from the second user terminal, a step for
storing the first skin image in the image storage after associating the
source information and the time information with the first skin image; a
step for taking out the first skin image stored in the image storage to
diagnose the first skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the
first diagnosis program; a step for storing a diagnosis result for the
first skin image in the diagnosis result storage after associating the
source information and the time information with the diagnosis result; a
step for receiving a second skin image of the pigmentary deposition
portion same as the first skin image picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope at a different time point, source information for identifying
the pigmentary deposition portion, and time information relating to a
time of sending the skin image from the second user terminal, a step for
storing the second skin image in the image storage after associating the
source information and the time information with the second skin image; a
step for taking out the second skin image stored in the image storage to
diagnose the second skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the
first diagnosis program; a step for diagnosing the skin lesion based on a
comparison between the diagnosis result for the first skin image and a
diagnosis result for the second skin image with the use of the second
diagnosis program; and a step for sending at least one of the diagnosis
results of the first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program
to a destination designated by the source information.

[0042]The program according to this invention is a program for causing a
computer to execute a remote diagnosis for diagnosing a skin lesion, the
computer being communicably connected to a database control server
communicably connected to the first user terminal and provided with a
database for storing data which are received from the first user terminal
and relate to the skin lesion and a second user terminal provided with a
camera device with dermoscope and comprising a diagnosis program which is
updated based on the data stored in the database and diagnoses skin
images for the skin lesion and an image storage for storing the skin
images to be diagnosed, wherein the program may cause the computer to
execute a step for receiving a skin image of a pigmentary deposition
portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope and source
information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion from the
second user terminal; a step for storing the received skin image in the
image storage after associating the source information with the skin
image; a step for taking out the stored skin image and diagnosing the
skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the diagnosis program; and
a step for sending a diagnosis result to a destination designated by the
source information.

[0043]The program according to this invention is a program for causing a
computer to execute a remote diagnosis for diagnosing a skin lesion, the
computer being communicably connected to a database control server
communicably connected to the first user terminal and provided with a
database for storing data which are received from the first user terminal
and relate to the skin lesion and a second user terminal provided with a
camera device with dermoscope and comprising a first diagnosis program
which is updated based on the data stored in the database and diagnoses
skin images for the skin lesion; a second diagnosis program for
diagnosing the skin lesion based on plural diagnosis results for the skin
lesion; an image storage for storing the skin images to be diagnosed; and
a diagnosis result storage for storing a diagnosis result, wherein the
program may cause the computer to execute a step for receiving a first
skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera
device with dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary
deposition portion, and time information relating to a time of sending
the skin image from the second user terminal; a step for storing the
first skin image in the image storage after associating the source
information and the time information with the first skin image; a step
for taking out the stored first skin image to diagnose the first skin
image for the skin lesion with the use of the first diagnosis program; a
step for storing a diagnosis result for the first skin image in the
diagnosis result storage after associating the source information and the
time information with the diagnosis result; a step for receiving a second
skin image of the pigmentary deposition portion same as the first skin
image picked up by the camera device with dermoscope at a different time
point, source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition
portion, and time information relating to a time of sending the skin
image from the second user terminal; a step for storing the second skin
image after associating the source information and the time information
with the second skin image; a step for taking out the stored second skin
image to diagnose the second skin image for the skin lesion with the use
of the first diagnosis program; a step for diagnosing the skin lesion
based on a comparison between the diagnosis result for the first skin
image and a diagnosis result for the second skin image with the use of
the second diagnosis program; and a step for sending at least one of the
diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis
program to a destination designated by the source information.

[0044]A program for causing a computer to execute a remote diagnosis for
diagnosing a skin lesion, the computer being communicably connected to a
user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope and
comprising a diagnosis program for diagnosing skin images for the skin
lesion and an image storage for storing the skin images to be diagnosed,
wherein the program may cause the computer to execute a step for
receiving a skin image picked up by the camera device with dermoscope and
source information for identifying the user terminal with the dermoscope;
a step for storing the received skin image in the image storage after
associating the source information with the skin image; a step for taking
out the skin image stored in the image storage and diagnosing the skin
image for the skin lesion with the use of the diagnosis program; and a
step for sending a diagnosis result to a destination designated by the
source information.

[0045]The program according to this invention is a program for causing a
computer to execute a remote diagnosis for diagnosing a skin lesion, the
computer being communicably connected to a user terminal provided with a
camera device with dermoscope and comprising a first diagnosis program
which diagnoses skin images for the skin lesion; a second diagnosis
program for diagnosing the skin lesion based on plural diagnosis results
for the skin lesion; an image storage for storing the skin images to be
diagnosed; and a diagnosis result storage for storing a diagnosis result,
wherein the program may cause the computer to execute a step for
receiving a first skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up
by the camera device with dermoscope, source information for identifying
the pigmentary deposition portion, and time information relating to a
time of sending the skin image; a step for storing the first skin image
in the image storage after associating the source information and the
time information with the first skin image; a step for taking out the
first skin image stored in the image storage to diagnose the first skin
image for the skin lesion with the use of the first diagnosis program; a
step for storing a diagnosis result for the first skin image in the
diagnosis result storage after associating the source information and the
time information with the diagnosis result; a step for receiving a second
skin image of the pigmentary deposition portion same as the first skin
image picked up by the camera device with dermoscope, source information
for identifying the second pigmentary deposition portion, and time
information relating to a time of sending; a step for storing the
received second skin image in the image storage after associating the
source information and the time information with the second skin image; a
step for taking out the second skin image stored in the image storage to
diagnose the second skin image for the skin lesion with the use of the
first diagnosis program; a step for diagnosing the skin lesion based on a
comparison between the diagnosis result for the first skin image and a
diagnosis result for the second skin image with the use of the second
diagnosis program; and a step for sending at least one of the diagnosis
results of the first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis program
to a destination designated by the source information.

[0046]A storage of this invention is a storage storing any one of the
above-described programs in a machine-readable form.

[0047]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention is a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a user terminal
provided with a camera device with dermoscope, the remote diagnosis
apparatus comprising: a first diagnosis program for diagnosing skin
images for the pigmentary deposition and a second diagnosis program for
diagnosing based on plural diagnosis results for the pigmentary
deposition and receiving a first skin image of a pigmentary deposition
portion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope from the user
terminal; diagnosing the received first skin image for the pigmentary
deposition with the use of the first diagnosis program; storing a
diagnosis result for the first skin image; receiving a second skin image
of the pigmentary deposition portion same as the first skin image picked
up by the camera device with dermoscope at a different time point from
the user terminal; diagnosing the second skin image for the pigmentary
deposition with the use of the first diagnosis program; comparing the
diagnosis result for the first skin image with a diagnosis result for the
second skin image with the use of the second diagnosis program; and
sending at least one of the diagnosis results of the first diagnosis
program and the second diagnosis program to a destination designated by
the source information.

[0048]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a user terminal
provided with a camera device with dermoscope, the remote diagnosis
apparatus comprising: a first diagnosis program diagnosing skin images
for the pigmentary deposition; a second diagnosis program for diagnosing
based on plural diagnosis results for the pigmentary deposition; an image
storage for storing the skin images to be diagnosed; and a diagnosis
result storage for storing a diagnosis result, receiving a first skin
image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device
with dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary
deposition portion, and first time information relating to a time of
sending the first skin image from the user terminal, storing the first
skin image in the image storage after associating the source information
and the first time information with the first skin image, taking out the
first skin image stored in the image storage to diagnose the first skin
image for the pigmentary deposition with the use of the first diagnosis
program, storing a diagnosis result for the first skin image in the
diagnosis result storage after associating the source information and the
first time information with the diagnosis result, receiving a second skin
image of the pigmentary deposition portion same as the first skin image
picked up by the camera device with dermoscope at a different time point,
source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition portion, and
second time information relating to a time of sending the skin image from
the user terminal, storing the received second skin image in the image
storage after associating the source information with the second skin
image, taking out the stored second skin image to diagnose the second
skin image for the pigmentary deposition with the use of the first
diagnosis program, diagnosing through a comparison between the diagnosis
result for the first skin image and a diagnosis result for the second
skin image with the use of the second diagnosis program, and sending at
least one of the diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the
second diagnosis program to a destination designated by the source
information.

[0049]The remote diagnosis apparatus according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to a user terminal
provided with a camera device with dermoscope, the remote diagnosis
apparatus comprising: a receiving unit for receiving a skin image of a
pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera device with
dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary deposition
portion, and time information relating to a time of sending the skin
image from the user terminal; an image storage for storing the received
skin image after associating the source information and the time
information with the skin image; a first diagnosis program for taking out
the skin image stored in the image storage to diagnose the skin image for
a pigmentary deposition; a diagnosis result storage for storing a
diagnosis result after associating the source information and the time
information with the diagnosis result for the skin image; a second
diagnosis program capable of diagnosing the pigmentary deposition based
on plural diagnosis results for the pigmentary deposition of the skin
image, which are stored in the diagnosis result storage and different in
time information; and a sending unit for sending at least one of
diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis
program to a destination designated by the source information.

[0050]Note that the user terminal in each of the remote diagnosis
apparatuses may preferably be provided with a portable telephone
function. Also, the user terminal may preferably communicate via the
Internet.

[0051]The remote diagnosis system according to this invention is a remote
diagnosis system for diagnosing a skin lesion, comprising a user terminal
provided with a camera device with dermoscope and a remote diagnosis
apparatus communicably connected to the user terminal and comprising a
first diagnosis program for diagnosing skin images for the pigmentary
deposition and a second diagnosis program capable of diagnosing the
pigmentary deposition based on a comparison of plural results of the
diagnosis for the pigmentary deposition, wherein the user terminal sends
a first skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the
camera device with dermoscope to the remote diagnosis apparatus; the
remote diagnosis apparatus receives the first skin image and diagnoses
the received first skin image for the pigmentary deposition with the use
of the first diagnosis program; the user terminal sends a second skin
image of the pigmentary deposition portion same as the first skin image
picked up by the camera device with dermoscope to the remote diagnosis
apparatus; the remote diagnosis apparatus receives the second skin image;
diagnoses the received second skin image for the pigmentary deposition
with the use of the first diagnosis program; diagnosing the pigmentary
deposition based on a comparison between the diagnosis result for the
first skin image with a diagnosis result for the second skin image with
the use of the second diagnosis program; and sends at least one of the
diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis
program to the second user terminal.

[0052]The remote diagnosis system according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis system for diagnosing a pigmentary deposition,
comprising: a user terminal provided with a camera device with dermoscope
and a remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to the user
terminal, wherein the user terminal comprises a sending unit for sending
a skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the camera
device with dermoscope, source information for identifying the pigmentary
deposition portion, and time information relating to a time of sending
the skin image to the remote diagnosis apparatus, and the remote
diagnosis apparatus comprises: an image receiving unit for receiving the
skin image, the source information, and the time information from the
second user terminal; an image storage for storing the skin image after
associating the source information and the time information with the skin
image; a first diagnosis program for diagnosing the received skin image
for the pigmentary deposition; a second diagnosis program capable of
diagnosing based on plural diagnosis results for the pigmentary
deposition; a diagnosis result storage for storing the diagnosis result;
and a sending unit for sending the diagnosis result to a predetermined
destination.

[0053]Note that the user terminal in each of the remote diagnosis systems
may preferably be provided with a portable telephone function. Also, the
user terminal may preferably communicate via the Internet.

[0054]A remote diagnosis method according to this invention may be a
remote diagnosis method for diagnosing a pigmentary deposition other than
skin lesions using a remote diagnosis apparatus which is communicably
connected to a user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope and comprises: an image receiving unit for receiving a skin
image to be diagnosed from the user terminal; an image storage for
storing a skin image; a first diagnosis program for diagnosing skin
images for the pigmentary deposition; a second diagnosis program
diagnosing based on plural diagnosis results for the pigmentary
deposition; a diagnosis result storage for storing the diagnosis results;
and a diagnosis result sending unit for sending at least one of the
diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and the second diagnosis
program to the user terminal, wherein the image receiving unit receives a
first skin image of a pigmentary deposition portion picked up by the
camera device with dermoscope, source information for identifying the
pigmentary deposition portion, and first time information relating to a
time of sending the first skin image from the user terminal; the image
storage stores the first skin image after associating the source
information and the first time information with the skin image; the first
diagnosis program takes out the first skin image stored in the image
storage to diagnose the first skin image for the pigmentary deposition;
the diagnosis result storage stores a diagnosis result for the first skin
image after associating the source information and the first time
information with the diagnosis result; the image receiving unit receives
a second skin image of the pigmentary deposition portion same as the
first skin image picked up by the camera device with dermoscope at a
different time point, source information for identifying the pigmentary
deposition portion, and second time information relating to a sending
time from the user terminal; the diagnosis result storage stores the
received second skin image after associating the source information with
the second skin image; the first diagnosis program takes out the stored
second skin image to diagnose the second skin image for the pigmentary
deposition; the second diagnosis program diagnoses through a comparison
between the diagnosis result for the first skin image and the diagnosis
result for the second skin image; the diagnosis result sending unit sends
at least one of the diagnosis results of the first diagnosis program and
the second diagnosis program to a destination designated by the source
information.

[0055]The diagnosis program according to this invention is a diagnosis
program which is updated based on plural skin images stored in a database
of which diagnoses have been determined and used for diagnosing skin
images to be diagnosed for a skin lesion, the diagnosis program causing a
computer to execute a step for performing image processing by separating
a pigmentary disorder portion of a skin lesion from a peripheral normal
portion in each of plural skin images on which the diagnoses have been
made and separating a rim portion of the separated pigmentary disorder
portion; a step for deciding parameters to be used for discrimination of
characteristics of the pigmentary disorder, such as a color, a texture,
an asymmetricity, and a circularity; and a step for performing evaluation
of each of the parameters using a predetermined system on the diagnosed
skin images with the use of each of the parameters, performing evaluation
of each of other parameters using the predetermined system on the
diagnosed skin images with the use of each of other parameters, repeating
the same operation until a diagnosis capability of any one of parameter
combinations reaches a predetermined value, and, ultimately, selecting a
parameter combination having a smallest number of parameters from the
parameter combinations having the diagnosis capability equal to or more
than the predetermined value. As used herein, the diagnosis capability
means a value obtained by a function obtained by combining sensitivity,
specificity, an average value thereof, and the like, and the
predetermined value when the value of the case of perfectly correct
diagnosis is 100% may be, but not limited to, 70% or more, preferably 80%
or more, and more preferably 90% or more.

[0056]The diagnosis program may further cause the computer to execute a
step for performing the image processing on a skin image to be diagnosed
and a step for obtaining a diagnosis result for the skin image to be
diagnosed using the predetermined system with the use of the parameter
combination selected in the fourth step.

[0057]In the above-described diagnosis programs, the predetermined system
may be, but not limited to, a neural network system. In the
above-described diagnosis programs, at least one of the parameter
evaluations may be performed by employing a leave-one-out method. The
leave-one-out method is preferred when the number of skin images on which
diagnoses are determined is small, but the evaluation method is not
limited to the method. In the above-described diagnosis programs, the
skin lesion which is a subject of the diagnosis may be melanoma.

[0058]A storage according to this invention is a storage storing the
above-described program in a machine-readable form.

[0059]Further, a method for screening a cosmetic agent or a drug for
diminishing a pigmentary deposition of skin may use the above-described
remote diagnosis apparatus and the remote diagnosis system having the
diagnosis program for diagnosing the pigmentary deposition or may use the
remote diagnosis method for pigmentary deposition other than skin lesion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PUBLICATIONS

[0060]This invention claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application
No. 2004-4747 filed on Jan. 9, 2004, which is incorporated herein by
reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061][FIG. 1] A block diagram of a melanoma remote diagnosis system
according to Embodiment I of the remote diagnosis system of this
invention.

[0062][FIG. 2] A flowchart showing one example of operation of each of
component parts of the melanoma remote diagnosis system according to
Embodiment I of the remote diagnosis system of this invention.

[0063][FIG. 3] A block diagram showing another embodiment of the remote
diagnosis system according to this invention.

[0064][FIG. 4] A block diagram showing a pigmented macule remote diagnosis
system according to Embodiment II of the remote diagnosis system of this
invention.

[0065][FIG. 5] A diagram showing an appearance of one example of portable
telephone with camera according to the embodiments of this invention.

[0066][FIG. 6] A diagram showing an appearance of one example of image
pickup device of the portable telephone with camera according to the
embodiments of this invention.

[0067][FIG. 7] A sectional view showing one example of interior of a unit
of the portable telephone with camera according to the embodiments of
this invention.

[0068][FIG. 8] A diagram showing one example of polarizing filter of the
portable telephone with camera according to the embodiments of this
invention.

[0069][FIG. 9] A diagram showing one example of image processing with a
diagnosis program according to the embodiments of this invention.

[0070][FIG. 10] A diagram and a calculation formula showing one example of
asymmetricity determination method of the diagnosis program according to
the embodiments of this invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0071]Hereinafter, embodiments of this invention will be described in
detail in conjunction with examples. In the case of using a commercially
available measurement device, a protocol attached to the measurement
device is used unless otherwise explained.

[0072]Object, characteristics, advantages, and ideas of this invention are
clearly understood by those skilled in the art by description of this
specification, and those skilled in the art can easily realize this
invention from the description of this specification. Embodiments and
specific examples of this invention described below are given for the
purposes of indicating preferable modes of this invention,
exemplification, or explanation and not for the purpose of limiting this
invention to them. It is apparent for those skilled in the art that
various alterations and modifications can be made based on the
description of this specification within the spirit and scope of this
invention disclosed in this specification.

[0073]Examples of the skin lesion to be the subject of the diagnosis
system according to this invention include malignant tumors such as
melanoma and basal cell cancer, and it is possible to use the diagnosis
system for distinguishing the malignant skin diseases from benign skin
diseases such as benign nevus pigmentosus and senile wart as well as for
follow-up after removal of the malignant skin diseases. Also, it is
possible to use the remote diagnosis system according to this invention
for diagnosis of pigmented macule (so-called blot), such as confirmation
of effect of pigmented macule removal surgery before and after the
surgery and confirming effects of cosmetic agents and drugs for
diminishing the pigmented macule and pigmentary deposition on a specific
portion (e.g. mammilla) of the body. It is possible to use the effects
for a screening of the cosmetic agents and drugs for diminishing the
pigmentary deposition.

EMBODIMENT 1

Melanoma Remote Diagnosis System

[0074]As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1, the remote diagnosis system
of this embodiment is a remote diagnosis system for diagnosing
presence/absence and a disease stage of melanoma, comprising a first user
terminal, a database control server communicably connected to the first
user terminal, a second user terminal provided with a camera device with
dermoscope, and a remote diagnosis apparatus communicably connected to
the database control server and the second user terminal. The first user
terminal is provided with a data sending/receiving unit for
sending/receiving data such as an image to/from the database control
server, and the database control server is provided with a data
sending/receiving unit for sending/receiving data such as an image
to/from the first user terminal and a database for storing data which are
received from the first user terminal and relate to a skin lesion. The
second user terminal is provided with a data sending/receiving unit for
sending/receiving data such as an image and a diagnosis result to/from
the remote diagnosis apparatus, and the remote diagnosis apparatus is
provided with a data sending/receiving unit for sending/receiving data
such as a skin image and a diagnosis result to/from the second user
terminal, an image storage serving as image storage means, a diagnosis
result storage serving as diagnosis result storage means, a first
diagnosis program for diagnosing a skin image for a skin lesion, a second
diagnosis program for diagnosing the skin lesion based on plural
diagnosis results for the skin lesion, and a data sending unit for
sending data such as a diagnosis result to a predetermined receiver.

[0075]With the use of the remote diagnosis system shown in FIG. 1, remote
diagnosis of melanoma is performed by process steps described below, for
example. Flowcharts corresponding to the diagnosis process steps are
shown in FIG. 2.

[0076](1) To start with, a medical professional such as a doctor
pathologically diagnoses a patient having a skin lesion to send data such
as a picture of the skin lesion and a determined diagnosis result with
the use of the first user terminal such as a personal computer to the
database control server (S10). As described above, since the first user
terminal has the role of sending the image and the data of the skin
lesion after determination of the diagnosis to the database control
server, the first user terminal may preferably be a terminal such as a
personal computer possessed by a medical professional such as a doctor.
The data sent from the first user terminal include a skin image of skin
lesion, characteristics of skin lesion (site in the body, color, size,
state, etc.), determined diagnosis of skin lesion (if the skin lesion is
melanoma or not; type of melanoma in the case where the skin lesion is
melanoma, etc.), and the like.

[0077](2) The database control server receives the data relating to the
skin lesion from the first user terminal and then stores the data in the
database for storing the data (S11).

[0078]The database is used as basic data when deciding parameters in the
first diagnosis program as described later in this specification, and it
is possible to increase accuracy of the diagnosis of the diagnosis
program described later in this specification by using a large size
database. Therefore, the data relating to the skin lesion may be
collected by doctors belonging to a hospital where the database control
server is placed, but the data may preferably be collected via the
Internet from doctors belonging to hospitals nationwidely or
internationally.

[0079]Also, it is possible to update the first diagnosis program when so
required based on the data stored in the database (S12). For instance,
the remote diagnosis apparatus may request the database control server
for the database once a week to obtain the latest database in which data
are updated, thereby updating the first diagnosis program based on the
data.

[0080](3) The patient takes a picture of a skin lesion such as nevus
pigmentosus which might be melanoma through the dermoscope using the
second user terminal such as a portable telephone with camera to which
the dermoscope with a polarizing filter is attached by an adapter and
then stores the skin image in the portable telephone (S13). The patient
accesses the Internet using an Internet access function of the portable
telephone to send the picked up skin image to the remote diagnosis
apparatus with the use of an e-mail program or a browser (S13).

[0081]When sending the skin image to the remote diagnosis apparatus, an
appropriate ID is assigned to the skin lesion as source information for
identifying the skin lesion to be sent together with the image. Also,
time information relating to the time of sending is attached to the
image. Also, in the case where the patient desires that a diagnosis
result is sent to a user terminal different from the portable telephone
or the like used for sending the image, an e-mail address of a desired
destination of the diagnosis result may be attached to the image so that
the user terminal is registered. Such registration of desired destination
enables also to deal with cases when the desired destination is changed
after sending the image.

[0082]Though the second user terminal may be a personal computer, a
web-enabled game console, or a portable telephone insofar as it is
possible to communicate with the remote diagnosis apparatus, the portable
telephone capable of communicating via the Internet is preferred in view
of the populization rate and portability. More specifically, since the
portable telephone with camera is widely used at present, anybody can
access and use the diagnosis system conveniently when the person desires
to know if a newly found nevus pigmentosus is melanoma. However, since it
is impossible to take a proper picture for the use in diagnosis of cells
such as the melanoma existing in the skin by an ordinary camera
incorporated into portable telephones, the dermoscope will be required.

[0083]The dermoscope is a microscope developed for observing skin lesions,
and it is possible to conduct the observation through the skin by
eliminating light reflected from the skin surface. One type of the
dermoscope is used in direct contact with the skin after applying on the
skin a gel used for sonographic diagnosis, and the other type has a
polarizing filter incorporated in the dermoscope. As the dermoscope to be
used in this invention, the latter type may be preferred since anybody
including ordinary people without doctor's license can use such
dermoscope easily. By the incorporation of the polarizing filter, it is
possible to conveniently use the dermoscope particularly the dermoscope
attached to the portable telephone.

[0084]In order to provide the user terminal such as the portable telephone
with the dermoscope, a built-in type or external connection type using
SCSI, USB, firewire, or the like may be used. In the case of the portable
telephone with camera, the dermoscope may preferably be formed into an
attachable/detachable type by taking advantage of the camera so that the
dermoscope is attachable to portable telephones of various manufacturers
by means of an adapter. It is considered that magnifying power and color
reproducibility are different depending on the terminals, a color sample
pallet and a scale bar to be used for color correction and identification
of the magnifying power at a later date may be installed into the
dermoscope to be displayed in the skin image.

[0085](4) The remote diagnosis apparatus receives the skin image of the
skin lesion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope, the skin
lesion ID, and the time information from the second user terminal to
store the skin image in the image storage after associating the skin
lesion ID and the time information with the skin image (S14). A melanoma
diagnosis program serving as the first diagnosis program takes out skin
images in the order of receipt from the storage to determine if the skin
lesion is melanoma and a disease stage when the skin lesion is melanoma
(S15). The thus-obtained diagnosis result is stored in the diagnosis
result storage (S16).

[0086]Examples of the image storage and the diagnosis result storage
include but not limited to, a memory, a cache, a hard disk, a removable
memory and the like.

[0087]As described above, by providing the remote diagnosis apparatus with
the storage storing the diagnosis program for judging from the skin image
data if the skin lesion is melanoma, etc. or normal and a degree of
severity when the skin lesion is melanoma, it is possible to analyze the
skin image automatically to diagnose skin lesions.

[0088]In the case where a doctor diagnoses with the use of a dermoscope,
the diagnosis may be subjective, and the diagnosis result may differ
depending on doctors in many cases. In this invention, since the
dermoscope is used in combination with the diagnosis program executed by
the computer, it is possible to use the dermoscope for more objective
diagnoses. Also, it is possible to perform the process steps from the
step of picking up image to the step of making diagnosis automatically.

[0089](5) The remote diagnosis apparatus sends the diagnosis result stored
in the diagnosis result storage to the predetermined destination
designated by the skin lesion with the use of an e-mail program or a
browser (S17). The destination may be the second user terminal which sent
the skin image or the desired destination which was registered when the
skin image was sent and is different from the second user terminal.

[0090](6) Further, another diagnosis for the same skin lesion may be
requested after the first diagnosis. The patient takes a picture of the
skin lesion in the same manner as in the first time and stores the
thus-obtained second skin image in the portable telephone to send the
skin image to the remote diagnosis apparatus (S18). In this case, it is
unnecessary to use the user terminal which is the same as that of the
first time, but the ID for identifying the skin lesion must be the same
as that of the first time. With the use of the same ID, the remote
diagnosis apparatus recognizes the skin image as that of the identical
skin lesion which is identified by the sent ID. Also, an e-mail address
of a desired destination of a diagnosis result is attached to the skin
image. It is unnecessary to use the desired destination same as that of
the first time. Also, second time information indicating the time of
sending, which is different from that of the first time, is attached when
sending the second skin image.

[0091](7) The remote diagnosis apparatus receives the second skin image of
the skin lesion picked up by the camera device with dermoscope, the skin
lesion ID, and the second time information to store the second skin image
in the image storage after associating the skin lesion ID and the second
time information with the skin image (S19). The melanoma diagnosis
program serving as the first diagnosis program takes out skin images in
the order of receipt from the image storage to determine if the skin
lesion is melanoma and a disease stage when the skin lesion is melanoma
(S20). The thus-obtained diagnosis result is stored in the diagnosis
result storage (S21).

[0092](8) A comparison diagnosis program provided in the remote diagnosis
apparatus and serving as the second diagnosis program obtains the
diagnosis result for the first skin image and the diagnosis result for
the second skin image from the diagnosis result storage to make a further
diagnosis on the skin lesion based on a comparison with the diagnosis
result for the second skin images (S23). Thus, it is possible to know a
change of the skin lesion from the time point of sending the first skin
image to the time point of sending the second skin image. For instance,
in the case of the melanoma in this embodiment, it is possible to measure
the size of the melanoma using the melanoma diagnosis program serving as
the first diagnosis program, and it is judged that the melanoma is
malignant when there is an increase in size as time advances.

[0093](9) The remote diagnosis apparatus sends the diagnosis result
obtained by the first diagnosis program on the second skin image and the
diagnosis result obtained by the second diagnosis program to the
predetermined destination designated by the skin lesion with the use of a
mail software or a browser. The diagnosis results are typically returned
to the second user terminal which was used for sending the skin image to
be diagnosed (S24).

[0094]Foregoing is detailed description of one example of embodiment
according to this invention. Though the database having data relating to
skin lesion is provided in the database control server in the foregoing
embodiment, the database may be provided in the remote diagnosis
apparatus and a second user terminal of the doctor may be communicable
with the remote diagnosis apparatus, so that the doctor directly sends
data relating to the skin lesion to the remote diagnosis apparatus (see,
for example, FIG. 3A). Also, in the case of not tracing time course, the
comparison diagnosis program serving as the second diagnosis program may
be eliminated (see, for example, FIG. 3B). Also, the database control and
diagnosis program update may be performed manually as required. In the
case of not performing the diagnosis program update, the database control
server and constitutions relating to the database control server may not
be necessary. A constitution wherein the storage is not required is also
considered. Also, a combination of the above constitutions may be
utilized.

EMBODIMENT II

Pigmented Macule Diagnosis System

[0095]As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, the remote diagnosis system
in this embodiment is a remote diagnosis system for diagnosing pigmented
macule and provided with a user terminal provided with a camera device
with dermoscope and a remote diagnosis apparatus to be communicated with
the user terminal. The user terminal is provided with a sending/receiving
unit for sending/receiving data such as an image, a diagnosis result, and
the like to/from the remote diagnosis apparatus, and the remote diagnosis
apparatus is provided with a sending/receiving unit for sensing/receiving
data such as a skin image, a diagnosis result, and the like to/from the
user terminal, an image storage, a diagnosis result storage, a first
diagnosis program for diagnosing a skin image for a skin lesion, a second
diagnosis program for diagnosing the skin lesion based on plural
diagnosis results for the skin lesion, and a data sending unit for
sending data such as a diagnosis result to a predetermined receiver.

[0096]With the use of the remote diagnosis system as shown in FIG. 4, a
remote diagnosis of pigmented macule is performed by process steps
described below, for example. In this embodiment, remote diagnosis is
utilized to examine the effects of using cosmetic agents and drugs for
diminishing the pigmented macule (blot) of skin for cosmetic purposes.

[0097]A person who desires a diagnosis on a pigmented macule obtains a
first skin image of the pigmented macule using the user terminal such as
a portable telephone with camera which is provided with a dermoscope with
polarizing filter and sends the first skin image to the remote diagnosis
apparatus in the same manner as in Embodiment I-(3). The remote diagnosis
apparatus diagnoses the pigmented macule with the use of the diagnosis
program and stores the diagnosis result in the diagnosis result storage
in the same manner as in Embodiment I-(4). In the case of the pigmented
macule, a diagnosis result relating particularly to color strength among
elements to be judged by the first diagnosis program is used for the
diagnosis. Next, after using a cosmetic agent for a test, the user
terminal picks up a second image of the identical pigmented macule to
send the second image to the remote diagnosis apparatus in the same
manner as in Embodiment I-(6). The remote diagnosis apparatus uses the
first diagnosis program to obtain a diagnosis result for the second skin
image in the same manner as in Embodiment I-(7) and judges if the color
of the pigmented macule has been diminished based on a comparison between
the diagnosis result for the first skin image and the diagnosis result
for the second skin image with the use of the comparison diagnosis
program in the same manner as in Embodiment I-(8). The judgment result is
sent to the predetermined destination designated by the pigmented macule
in the same manner as in Embodiment I-(9). The diagnosis result is
typically returned to the user terminal which sent the skin image to be
diagnosed.

[0098]In addition, this embodiment is used for a diagnosis of a color of a
skin of a specific part (e.g. mammilla) of the body without limitation to
the skin lesion such as pigmented macule.

[0099]Dermoscope with Polarizing Filter for Portable Telephone

[0100]As described in the foregoing, the dermoscope used in this
embodiment may preferably be provided with the polarizing filter and most
preferably be attached to the camera incorporated into the portable
telephone by means of an adapter. Hereinafter, one example of the
dermoscope will be described in detail.

[0101]An appearance of one example of the portable telephone 20 with
camera is shown in FIG. 5. In the portable telephone 20, a camera 26 is
disposed under a display 22 and above push-buttons 24. The camera 26 is
provided with an objective lens 28 and an image pickup device 40 shown in
FIG. 6. The image pickup device 40 performs imaging by image light
introduced from an object to be picked up via the objective lens 28 and
is formed of a CCD in this embodiment. In the case of picking up an image
by using this portable telephone 20 alone, it is possible to pick up a
reduced image.

[0102]A unit 30 serving as the adapter to be attached to the portable
telephone 20 is shown in FIG. 6. The unit 30 is attached to the portable
telephone 20 to form an image picked up by the image pickup device 40
into an enlarged image. A horizontal sectional view of a state in which
the unit 30 is attached to the portable telephone 20 is shown in FIG. 4.
In a state where the unit 30 is coaxial with an optical axis of the
objective lens 28 included in the camera 26 of the portable telephone 20,
a first member 42 is attached to a surface of the portable telephone 20
to fix a second member 34 in such a manner as to enclose the exposed
objective lens 28, thereby realizing attachment in a state where the unit
30 is detachable from the portable telephone 20. For instance, the unit
30 may be fixed by fitting the unit 30 into a projection formed on one of
the members and a depression formed on the other member. Also, the unit
30 may be fixed by a magnetic force by forming one of the members from a
metal plate and forming the other member from a magnet.

[0103]As shown in FIG. 7, a mount 48 is fixed on an inner periphery of the
unit 30 inside the unit 30. The mount 48 is a circular plate having an
outer diameter identical to an inner diameter of the unit 30 and a
circular hole formed at the center. A magnifying lens 46 is fitted into
the hole of the mount 48 to be attached to the unit 30 via the mount 48.

[0104]In a state where the unit 30 is fixed to the portable telephone 20,
a distance from a unit tip part 36 to an outer surface of the portable
telephone 20 is such that a point of focus by a combination of the
objective lens 28 and the magnifying lens 46 is kept within a range
corresponding to an imaging range of the object to be picked up when the
tip part 36 is brought into contact with the object to be picked up.
Therefore, by bringing the tip part 36 into contact with the object to be
picked up, the camera is automatically focused on a part of the object to
be picked up enclosed by the tip part 36.

[0105]Six light sources 44, for example, are disposed on a front face of
the mount 48. Each of the light sources may be a small LED and
illuminates the imaging range of the object to be picked by emitting
light.

[0106]A battery 52 serving as a power source is provided on the inner
periphery of the unit 30 and near the mount 48. The battery 49 provides
energy for the light emission of the light sources 44. A switch 32 is
disposed on the surface of the unit 30 to control a state of light
emission of the light sources 44 by changing a connection state between
the battery 49 and the light sources 44.

[0107]A polarizing filter device 100 shown in FIG. 8 is disposed in front
of the mount 48. The device 100 is provided with a light source
polarizing filter 102 for polarizing light from the light sources 44, a
received light polarizing filter 104 for polarizing light from the object
to be picked up, a light shielding tube 106 for shielding light so that
light exiting from the light sources through the light source polarizing
filter 102 to outside the unit 30 is not blended with light entering the
magnifying lens 46 through the received light polarizing filter 104 from
the outside. Each of the received light polarizing filter 104 and the
light source polarizing filter 102 has a polarizing filter, and the
polarizing filters differ in polarizing direction.

[0108]With the use of the portable telephone with camera 20 and the unit
30 mounted on the portable telephone 20 having the above-described
constitutions, a skin which is an object to be picked up is picked up
using the camera function incorporated into the portable telephone 20 in
a state where the tip part 36 of the unit 30 being contacted with the
skin. The light emitted from the light sources 44 passes through the
light source polarizing filter 102 to be light polarized in the
predetermined direction. Since the light reflected by the skin surface
has an oscillation direction same as that of the light from the light
sources 44, the light is eliminated as being prevented from passing
through the received light polarizing filter 104 having the different
polarizing direction. In turn, since the light reflected inside the skin
has various polarizing directions, the light having an oscillation
direction same as that of the received light polarizing filter 104 passes
through the received light filter 104.

[0109]With the use of the polarizing filter device 100, it is possible to
effectively eliminate the light reflected by the skin surface and to take
a beautiful picture of melanoma existing under the skin.

[0110]Further, the use of the portable telephone to which the unit with
polarizing filter is attached for the remote diagnosis enables ordinary
people without medical knowledge to pick up a beautiful skin image of a
skin lesion to facilitate diagnoses on melanoma and the like.

[0111]Melanoma Diagnosis Program

[0112]This diagnosis system is applicable to various skin lesions that can
be diagnosed through examination of the skin surface and capable of using
a diagnosis program appropriate for each of the skin lesions.

[0113]In the case of creating a diagnosis program, plural skin images on
which diagnoses are determined are used as basic data to decide
parameters to be obtained by a skin image in such a manner as to achieve
the maximum diagnosis accuracy. A diagnosis of a skin image which is a
diagnosis subject on which a diagnosis has not been determined is
performed by using the decided parameters. Therefore, since the program
is improved as the number of determined diagnoses and the number of
inputted basic data is increased, it is recommended to decide a new
diagnosis parameter by updating the diagnosis program sequentially with
the use of the database to which new basic data has been inputted.

[0114]However, since a premise that a skin lesion has a pattern is
included in the decision of the diagnosis program, the diagnosis accuracy
is deteriorated if a skin lesion having an exceptional pattern is used as
the basic data. Therefore, in the case where the parameters are changed
by a large degree or the diagnosis accuracy is deteriorated by a large
degree when the diagnosis program is updated after adding new data as the
basic data, such added data may be eliminated as an error.

[0115]Since it is possible to eliminate indeterminate elements for
diagnosis result, which can be caused depending on doctor's experience of
skin lesion diagnosis, by using the diagnosis program, the diagnosis
result with reliable probability is obtained.

[0116]Hereinafter, a melanoma diagnosis program will be descried as one
example.

[0117]Image Processing>

[0118]To start with, a pigmentary disorder portion is separated from a
peripheral normal portion. This processing is performed automatically by
using an algorithm having an automatic threshold value selection method
based on a least square method employed after Gaussian filtering and
Laplacian filtering. Next, a rim portion having a width which is 10% of a
diameter is specified on a circumference of the pigmentary disorder
portion to be separated by employing the technique of erosion (FIG. 9).

[0119]Calculation Processing>

[0120]Values (parameters) of a color, a texture, asymmetricity,
circularity, and the like were used for discriminating the pigmentary
lesion. Used as the values of the color were a minimum value, a maximum
value, and an average value of each of red, green, and blue of each of
the whole pigmentary disorder portion and the rim portion. The minimum
value includes (1) a minimum value, (2) a minimum value corrected by the
average value of the surrounding skin, and (3) a minimum value of a
region of 5% or more of the whole region. A proportion of an area having
an luminance of 100 or less was measured in both of the pigmentary
disorder portion and the rim portion. Used as the values of the texture
were standard deviation, skewness, uniformity, and energy of each of red,
green, and blue in each of the pigmentary disorder portion and the rim
portion. The asymmetricity is calculated from the expression shown in
FIG. 10. The asymmetricity of each of a main axis and a secondary axis is
calculated for each of red, green, blue, and binarized values.

[0121]The value of circularity c is defined by

c=P2/4πA

(in the equation, P represents a peripheral length of the rim portion, and
A represents an area of the pigmentary disorder portion). With an
increase in circularity, the pigmentary disorder portion becomes more
elliptic to be complicated in shape.

[0122]As shown in Table 1, the number of parameters is 62, and the
diagnosis program selects plural ones which are optimum for a diagnosis
from the parameters. Hereinafter, one example of method of selecting the
parameters in the diagnosis program will be described.

[0123]Decision I of Parameters to be Used: Multivariate Stepwise Selection
Discriminant Analysis>

[0124]Skin images of pigmentary disorder on skin surface obtained by the
dermoscope with the polarizing filter are collected in view of the
following conditions:

1) Absence of hair that shields a pigmentary disorder;2) Elimination of a
pigmentary disorder caused in extremity and mucous membrane; and3)
Inclusion of whole image of a pigmentary disorder.

[0125]Used in this embodiment were 23 cases of melanoma in situ (MIS), 36
cases of thin invasive melanoma (TIM) having a thickness of 0.75 mm or
less, and 188 cases of Clark's nevi (CN).

[0126]With the use of the 62 parameters (see Table 1) in total, a
multivariate stepwise discriminant analysis was performed to discriminate
a difference between MIS and CN or between TIM and CN. SPSS (Windows,
version 11.0.1 J; product of SPSS) was used for this analysis.

TABLE-US-00001
TABLE 1
Total parameters (62)
Step Parameter
1 Minimum value of red in overall tumor
2 Minimum value of green in overall tumor
3 Minimum value of blue in overall tumor
4 Maximum value of red in overall tumor
5 Maximum value of green in overall tumor
6 Maximum value of blue in overall tumor
7 Average value of red in overall tumor
8 Average value of green in overall tumor
9 Average value of blue in overall tumor
10 Deviation of red in overall tumor
11 Deviation of green in overall tumor
12 Deviation of blue in overall tumor
13 Skewness of red in overall tumor
14 Skewness of blue in overall tumor
15 Skewness of green in overall tumor
16 Energy of red in overall tumor
17 Energy of blue in overall tumor
18 Energy of green in overall tumor
19 Entropy of red in overall tumor
20 Entropy of blue in overall tumor
21 Entropy of green in overall tumor
22 Circularity (index of similarity to circle)
23 Ratio of black region having luminance of 100
or less in overall tumor
24 Ratio of black region having luminance of 100
or less in rim portion of tumor
25 Minimum value of red corrected by average
value in normal skin
26 Minimum value of blue corrected by average
value in normal skin
27 Minimum value of green corrected by average
value in normal skin
28 Minimum value of red occupying 0.05% or more
of area of overall tumor
29 Minimum value of blue occupying 0.05% or more
of area of overall tumor
30 Minimum value of green occupying 0.05% or more
of area of overall tumor
31 Longitudinal asymmetricity of red component
32 Longitudinal asymmetricity of blue component
33 Longitudinal asymmetricity of green component
34 Horizontal asymmetricity of red component
35 Horizontal asymmetricity of blue component
36 Horizontal asymmetricity of green component
37 Horizontal asymmetricity of shape irrelevant
to color
38 Longitudinal asymmetricity of shape irrelevant
to color
39 Minimum value of red in rim portion of tumor
40 Minimum value of green in rim portion of tumor
41 Minimum value of blue in rim portion of tumor
42 Maximum value of red in rim portion of tumor
43 Maximum value of green in rim portion of tumor
44 Maximum value of blue in rim portion of tumor
45 Average value of red in rim portion of tumor
46 Average value of green in rim portion of tumor
47 Average value of blue in rim portion of tumor
48 Deviation of red in rim portion of tumor
49 Deviation of green in rim portion of tumor
50 Deviation of blue in rim portion of tumor
51 Skewness of red in rim portion of tumor
52 Skewness of blue in rim portion of tumor
53 Skewness of green in rim portion of tumor
54 Energy of red in rim portion of tumor
55 Energy of blue in rim portion of tumor
56 Energy of green in rim portion of tumor
57 Entropy of red in rim portion of tumor
58 Entropy of blue in rim portion of tumor
59 Entropy of green in rim portion of tumor
60 Minimum value of red occupying 0.05% or more
of area of rim portion of tumor
61 Minimum value of blue occupying 0.05% or more
of area of rim portion of tumor
62 Minimum value of green occupying 0.05% or more
of area of rim portion of tumor

[0127]To start with, in order to minimize a λ value of Wilks, a
forward selection or a backward selection of the parameters was performed
(F-in 3.84, F-out 2.71); With a reduction of λ value of Wilks,
discrimination between the two groups becomes more prominent. Therefore,
after repeating the selection, a set of parameters enabling a best linear
discrimination was specified.

[0128]In the multivariate stepwise selection discriminant analysis between
MIS and CN, 6 parameters shown in Table 2 were selected. The parameters
in Table 2 are in the order of inclusion.

[0129]In this case, the ultimate λ value of Wilks was 0.69.
Sensitivity for melanoma in situ discrimination (percentage of making
correct diagnosis on melanoma) was 85.6%, and specificity for melanoma in
situ discrimination (percentage of not making incorrect diagnosis of
melanoma) was 73.9%. With an adoption of the leave-one-out cross
validation method to the percentages, the sensitivity and the specificity
for the melanoma in situ discrimination were 69.9% and 85.6%,
respectively.

[0130]The leave-one-out method is a method wherein, in the case of using N
samples, the samples are divided into N-1 practice samples and one
evaluation sample to evaluate the evaluation sample by means of a result
of learning using the N-1 practice samples, and a percentage of correct
evaluation results is calculated for each of N patterns of giving the
evaluation sample to use the calculated value as an evaluation value for
predictive performance. This method is effective for reducing a bias in
data of a small number of samples.

[0131]Likewise, 13 parameters shown in Table 3 were used for the
multivariate stepwise selection discriminant analysis between TIM and CN.
This multivariate stepwise selection discriminant analysis has 15 steps,
and the parameters shown in Table 3 are in the order of inclusion.

TABLE-US-00003
TABLE 3
13 parameters used in Melanoma vs. Clark
Step Parameter
1 Horizontal asymmetricity of red component
2 Ratio of black region having luminance of
100 or less in rim portion of tumor
3 Longitudinal asymmetricity of shape
irrelevant to color
4 Average value of blue in overall tumor
5 Average value of blue in rim portion of tumor
6 Deviation of blue in overall tumor
7 Ratio of black region having luminance of
100 or less in overall tumor
8 Ratio of black region having luminance of
100 or less in rim portion of tumor (exclusion)
9 Average value of green in overall tumor
10 Deviation of blue in rim portion of tumor
11 Minimum value of red occupying 0.05% or
more of area of rim portion of tumor
12 Average value of red in overall tumor
13 Average value of green in rim portion of tumor
14 Average value of red in overall tumor
15 Deviation of red in rim portion of tumor
(Note)
Parameter of Step 2 is excluded by Step 8

[0132]In this case, the ultimate λ value of Wilks was 0.23.
Sensitivity for invasive melanoma discrimination and specificity for
invasive melanoma discrimination were 94.4% and 98.4%, respectively. With
the use of the leave-one-out cross validation method, the sensitivity and
the specificity for the invasive melanoma discrimination were 91.7% and
98.4%.

[0133]Then, F values for the parameters of the categories of color,
texture, asymmetricity, and circularity for discrimination were
calculated. Since the size of an F value shows contribution to
discrimination, a parameter having a large F value has an important role
in discrimination. As a result, the F values were small in the
discrimination between MIS and CN (color: 0.0, texture: 26.9,
asymmetricity: 37.1, circularity: 7.3), and the F values of the
categories of color and texture were large in the discrimination between
TIM and CN (color: 189.1, texture: 28.2, asymmetricity: 9.0, circularity:
0.0), thereby indicating that the categories have important roles in
discrimination.

[0135]In this embodiment, a neural network is used as a discriminator in
place of the multivariate stepwise selection discriminant analysis of the
foregoing embodiment. Since the neural network is capable of creating a
non-linear discrimination borderline which cannot be made by the
multivariate stepwise selection discrimination, it is expected to achieve
discrimination with higher accuracy. In this embodiment, a neural network
obtained by Mackey et al. by expanding a BP (Back Propagation) neural
network advantageous for data discrimination and the like through
incorporation of statistical technique for the purpose of versatility was
used. In practice, the neural network programmed by using MATLAB Rel. 13
(product of The MathWorks, Inc.) was used.

[0136]BP is generally formed of three layers, namely, an input layer, an
intermediate layer, and an output layer, and the provision of the
intermediate layer makes it possible to categorize a problem which cannot
be linearly separated by the discriminant analysis. The number of the
intermediate layer in this embodiment is 1, and parameters were decided
as described below.

[0137]The skin images of the cases used in the multivariate stepwise
selection discriminant analysis, namely, 23 cases of melanoma in situ
(MIS), 36 cases of thin invasive melanoma (TIM), and 188 cases of Clarks
nevi (CN), and 56 cases of Reed nevus (RN) were used. With the use of the
62 parameters, the leave-one-out method was performed on each of the
parameters, and then the leave-out-one method was performed on the result
by adding next parameters. After repeating the same processing by the
neural network system, combinations each having a small number of
parameters were selected among combinations of parameters capable of
achieving diagnosis capability (average of specificity and sensitivity)
of at least 85%. As a result, 8 parameters shown in Table 4, which are
capable of achieving sensitivity and specificity of invasive melanoma
discrimination in the evaluation by the cross validation of 94.8% and
79.0% were selected.

[0139]The comparison diagnosis program is a program for diagnosing based
on plural diagnosis results for pigmentary deposition and compares, for
example, diagnosis results for skin images of an identical pigmentary
deposition picked up at a different time point to give a diagnosis
relating to the pigmentary deposition from the comparison result.

[0140]For instance, in Embodiment 1, the melanoma diagnosis program
measures the size (area and diameter) of a skin lesion at different time
points to store the results in the diagnosis result storage, and then the
comparison diagnosis program calculates a degree and a speed of increase
in size to determine if the skin lesion is benign or malignant.

[0141]In embodiment II, the pigmented macule diagnosis program measures
color strength of an identical pigmented macule before and after using a
cosmetic agent or drug for diminishing skin pigmentation to store the
results in the diagnosis result storage, and then the comparison
diagnosis program calculates a degree and a speed of discoloration to
examine an effect of the cosmetic agent or the drug.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0142]According to this invention, it is possible to provide a remote
diagnosis apparatus, a remote diagnosis system, a user terminal, a
program, and a storage for conveniently diagnosing a pigmentary
deposition portion.